Lake Katlabug is the breath of southern Odesa region, a source of life for 15,000 people and an irrigation artery for thousands of hectares of fields.
According to the Telegraph, the situation in the south of Odesa region has become critical, with Lake Katlabukh on the verge of "dead volume", with a water level of only 0.88 m, which is only 57 % of the required level, and with the threat of complete shallowing by 1 July.
📌 Rapid response: Alla Stoyanova's official appeal
On 25 June, the Telegraph website published an official appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers by Alla Stoyanova, a member of the Odesa Regional Council, which clearly and reasonably provided up-to-date information on the actual situation.
The document points to the possibility of crop losses, increased risks of environmental disasters and threats to local water supplies (for more details, see https://news.telegraf.com.ua/ukraina/2025-06-25/5913000-na-odeshchini-byut-na-spolokh-za-kilka-dniv-unikalne-ozero-peretne-mertvu-poznachku).
Ms Stoyanova emphasised that without quick intervention, the losses for the region could reach hundreds of millions of hryvnias.
The regional information resource "YugTudei" published an analytical article on the threat of losing Katlabug (available at https://www.facebook.com/yugtoday/videos/1249507306711780).

Water of Life sent an appeal to Alla Stoyanova and the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council.
Prompt response and coordinated interaction between different branches of government prevented the disaster. The situation with Lake Katlabug has become another argument in favour of a systematic approach to water management in southern Ukraine.

✅ Reaction to Alla Stoyanova's appeal
📢 As a result, the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers reported that:
- The issue has been taken under control by the central government.
- Inquiries were sent to the Odesa Regional Military Administration and the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine to take urgent measures.
- The relevant authorities joined in to solve the problem and initiated the forced filling of Lake Katlabug, which began on 30 June.
In particular, Suspilne reported that with the start of water supply, Katahdin reservoirs are already being actively filled.
Alla Stoyanova keeps her finger on the pulse - this is not a trigger of emotions, this is a clear position: we cannot allow a catastrophe to happen

🌱 The problem is deeper than just water
The problem is systemic:
- Climate change and high heat are particularly vulnerable in areas such as the Danube reservoirs.
- The lack of strategic hydraulic solutions threatens the future of water supply, irrigation and soil quality.
- Other reservoirs - Loschynivske and estuaries - are also on the verge of drying up, causing environmentalists to worry.

✋ What has been done:
- Forcing the pumps to start is the fastest rescue measure.
- The issue has been raised at the highest levels, with requests from the Cabinet of Ministers.
- The local EIA and water agencies are activated - the responsible people have received a clear signal to respond.

Alla Stoyanova emphasises that
"Lake Katlabug is the life of the south of Odesa region: fields, farmers, people. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to the rescue. But we need a long-term answer: restoration of canals, modernisation of systems, and a climate adaptation strategy. I won't rest until the work is complete - we need to keep this issue under daily control. Further steps are needed:
1. Analyse the causes of the water level drop, both natural and man-made.
2. Develop a comprehensive programme to stabilise the water level in Katlabus and other Danube lakes.
3. Modernisation of hydraulic structures and pumping equipment.
Incorporating Regional Water Security into National Environmental Policy".

🔵 POSITION OF THE IZMAIL DISTRICT MILITARY ADMINISTRATION

The Izmail RGA responded to the threatening situation promptly and constructively. A number of measures were initiated in cooperation with the relevant authorities and the Odesa Regional State Administration to prevent an environmental disaster. The administration's management stressed that the situation with Lake Katlabug is under constant control. All possible measures are being taken to respond promptly, including measures to force the reservoir to fill up, and cooperation with water management and energy specialists has been intensified.

The Izmail RBA also supports the initiative to create a long-term programme to modernise the irrigation infrastructure of the Danube region and introduce systematic monitoring of the condition of water bodies.

⚠️ WHY THESE ACTIONS ARE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR ONE LAKE
The actions taken to save Lake Katlabug are more than just a local response. It is an example of effective cooperation between the authorities, the community and the expert community. It is a signal that we are able not only to sound the alarm, but also to act in a coordinated, fast and substantive manner.
Thanks to one appeal, the mechanisms at the state level started working. Thanks to the region's vigilance, we managed to gain time and avoid catastrophic consequences.
❗️ This is a story about resilience, stewardship and a model of action that needs to be scaled up.

Because today is Katlabug. Tomorrow - another lake, another field, another source of life.
Only a systematic, decisive and humane response can lay the foundation for a secure future for Ukraine's agricultural south.

🌊 The catastrophe is not somewhere else: it is forcing us to act right now. Thanks to the appeal, the response of the Cabinet of Ministers and the activity of experts, we have gained time. But the main thing is to prevent the crisis from composting the life of the region.

Lake Katlabug, a symbol of resilience, has a chance to come back to life. But this requires more than just water today - it requires a strategy for tomorrow.