4 September 2025 – Clean water supply is set to be restored for residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv after a long wait. For the first time since the water supply was cut off by Russian forces in April 2022, residents of the city will now be able to turn on their taps and see fresh and drinkable water. The Ukrainian government announced today that the new 68-kilometre-long pipeline is in its final testing phase and if everything goes according to plan, it will be fully operational within the next two weeks.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko made the announcement after personally inspecting the project. She said the new intake system from the Southern Bug River will “completely replace salt water in all systems in Mykolaiv”. Photos released showed her visiting the site with engineers — a short but symbolic moment, as the city has been waiting for this for a long time.
Two years of salty water and makeshift solutions
Mykolaiv, a port city that witnessed some of the heaviest fighting in the early months of the invasion, lost its lifeline when Russian troops destroyed the main pipeline coming from the Dnipro River. Suddenly, more than half a million people lost access to clean water.
For two years, makeshift solutions were the only solution. Residents collected bottled water from aid centers, queued for supplies and made do with saltwater pumped from a nearby estuary. This makeshift arrangement kept the pipeline running, but it also severely damaged the city’s plumbing and heating systems. Broken radiators, burst pipes and constant repairs became part of daily life.
A fragile but hopeful lifeline
Construction of the new main pipeline began in January 2025. It was initially estimated to cost more than $200 million, but was completed for about $157 million — positive news in Ukraine’s difficult economic situation. Officials say the money saved will be invested in infrastructure projects in other war-torn regions.
The pipeline is more than just a steel tube. It also has solar panels and backup generators to keep water supplied even if there are power cuts. It also has a backup system to irrigate nearby agricultural land. Still, many questions remain — like how long-term maintenance will be handled, how safe such a structure can be ensured in an active war zone, and whether the new supply will be able to handle the growing demands of rebuilding the city.
A step toward normal life
The return of fresh water to Mykolaiv feels like a psychological victory. After two years of salt-crusted kettles and rusty pipes, the simple experience of filling a glass of water straight from the tap may be the clearest sign that the city is trying to return to normal life again. However, how permanent this situation will be depends, as always, on the direction of the war that still feels very close to the city.
