By early August 2026, the water crisis had intensified in several Russian regions. In Tyumen, residents were warned not to use water from the Tura River, while in Moscow Oblast, the Gnilusha River became covered with foam and dead fish following a drone attack. In what other regions did Russians have to evacuate, search for drinking water, or go without showers and clean laundry in 2026? Find out in this article by 7x7.
Too much water
The North Caucasus saw the worst flooding of spring and summer 2026. During March and April alone, about 10,000 homes were flooded in Dagestan, and at least 8,000 buildings were damaged. Makhachkala experienced its worst flooding in a century, causing even an apartment building to collapse. Local residents blamed the scale of the disaster not only on prolonged heavy rains, but also on chaotic illegal development and failures of the stormwater drainage system.
At least six people died in Dagestan, while more than 6,000 were affected by the floods. Over 4,000 residents had to be evacuated, and more than 30 people were poisoned by contaminated water. Many settlements, especially in mountainous areas, were left without electricity or transport links for an extended period.
The authorities paid 2.8 billion rubles in compensation to 76,000 affected residents. Applications are still being accepted. The republic received nearly 3.9 billion rubles in total for compensation payments.
In neighboring Chechnya, the spring floods damaged about 4,000 households and at least 30 bridges. In May, the Dzhalka River flooded another 45 land plots. By the end of July, Chechnya and Dagestan had spent more than 12 billion rubles on recovery efforts and compensation.
The disaster was less severe in other regions, but residents said many of its consequences could easily have been prevented. In the village of Khomutovo in Irkutsk Oblast, 90 homes were damaged. Back in 2025, residents had urged local authorities to divert meltwater away from the village, but their proposal was ignored. They ultimately received no compensation because the authorities refused to declare a state of emergency.
In Kopeysk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, residential neighborhoods have been suffering from flooding for years. The authorities spent 35.5 million rubles on a dewatering project, but it was never completed. The drainage work will now be carried out by a local company under a 110-million-ruble contract.
Residents of several towns in Sverdlovsk Oblast complained about flooding, shortages of drinking water, and poor water quality, including its color and smell. At least 1,250 land plots were flooded in the Gornouralsky District. A high-alert regime was introduced in Revda, but without a formal state of emergency residents are not entitled to compensation.
Water being pumped out near residential buildings in Engels, May 5, 2026. Photo: Telegram channel of the Engels Municipal District administration.
No water
The longest and most severe series of utility failures occurred in Bodaybo, Irkutsk Oblast. In late January, the town's water pipeline froze, shutting down two boiler plants. A total of 141 apartment buildings, around 1,300 residents, and two schools were left without water and heating as temperatures dropped to −37°C. The crisis dragged on for nearly a month.
In May, ice on the river damaged the city's water intake facility. Even after it resumed operations, the water was classified as non-potable for another two weeks. It could not be drunk, and residents were advised not to use it for washing. Immediately after the accident, a five-liter bottle of water sold for as much as 500 rubles. Some families spent up to 10,000 rubles on drinking water.
The problems continued into the summer. In July, rising river levels once again cut Bodaybo off from the outside world, while the regional authorities still had not reimbursed the town for the cost of dealing with the earlier emergencies. District head Yevgeny Yumashev openly warned that, because of changes to tax revenue distribution, 2026 might be the last year in which the district could "accomplish anything positive."
In Karelia, the village of Kurkiyoki went without water for more than three weeks. After repairs were completed, the authorities openly admitted that disruptions could happen again and said a full modernization of the water supply system would not take place until 2027–2028.
In Partizansk, Primorsky Krai, around 50,000 residents were left without water for at least a week. Water deliveries organized by the authorities unexpectedly turned out to be a paid service. Later that summer, the town once again faced the threat of water shortages, this time because of the local water utility's debts.
In August, a burst water main left thousands of residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky without water.
Residents of Bodaybo took over part of the authorities' work themselves. They created a mutual aid chat, delivered water and heaters, provided food for repair crews, and installed temporary heating in apartment building entrances. One volunteer even took in a family affected by the crisis.
In all of these places, aging utility infrastructure proved unable to withstand freezing temperatures, floods, and years of wear and tear. Although water service was eventually restored after repairs, the risk of new failures remained.
Aftermath of the flooding in Tyumen, July 2026. Photo: Nash Gorod Tyumen / Telegram.
Water that can't be used
In Tyumen, the water crisis unfolded over several months. The city experienced flooding in May, and water levels rose again in July after heavy rains. A total of 122 homes and more than 1,800 garden plots were flooded. A high-alert regime was introduced across the district.
By August, residents began reporting mass fish deaths and foul-smelling tap water. A state of emergency has been in effect since August 1. Three days later, the city administration officially banned residents from drawing water from the Tura River or swimming in it. Authorities also launched an emergency hepatitis A vaccination campaign, as the disease can be contracted through contaminated water.
In Domodedovo, water pollution was a direct consequence of the war. After a Ukrainian drone attack in July, a warehouse belonging to the household chemicals company Grass caught fire. Soon afterward, videos showing foam and dead fish in the Gnilusha River began circulating online.
Volunteers collected and disposed of more than 15 tonnes of dead fish by hand. Three weeks after the fire, residents were still reporting a persistent chemical smell, river pollution, and dead animals. The authorities advised people not to drink water from wells or public standpipes.
In Engels, Saratov Oblast, the crisis was triggered by the failure of a major sewer collector. For several weeks, the city was literally flooded with sewage, while around 200,000 residents were left without water. Utility services shut off the water supply several times, including on Victory Day. Residents and journalists said the accident was the result of long-standing problems: the smell of sewage had lingered in the city since at least 2014.
Repairs to the collector lasted a month and a half. At the same time, former Engels Vodokanal director Vladimir Popeko was standing trial in the region. Prosecutors argued that the accident had been caused, in part, by his failure to act. However, the court reclassified the charges and acquitted him. The authorities allocated only about 900,000 rubles in direct compensation for those affected.
Balakovo and Kinel also experienced sewage flooding. Following the floods in the North Caucasus, wastewater may also have entered local utility systems. Residents of Primorsky Krai and Krasnodar Krai likewise reported mass fish deaths. According to them, local waterways have been polluted for years, yet the authorities have failed to resolve the problem.
