Ukraine's rivers are suffering from a shortage of water; the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center explained the situation
The start of fall posed yet another challenge for Ukraine’s rivers. The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center provided an overview of the hydrological conditions of water bodies in September and the factors that influenced them.
Weather Conditions in September 2026
Experts noted that September 2026 in Ukraine was characterized by warm weather.
Specifically, the average monthly air temperature was 0.4–1.4°C above the climatic norm.
Rainfall during this period was uneven:
both geographically;
as well as over time.
In which regions was a precipitation deficit recorded?
According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, a precipitation deficit (26–70% of normal) was observed throughout September:
in the Carpathian region;
- within the Pripyat sub-basin — with the exception of certain tributaries in Zhytomyr Oblast (while the river sub-basin as a whole is located within Zhytomyr, Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Kyiv Oblasts);
- within the Southern Bug River basin (the basin area covers—in whole or in part—the Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions);
in the watersheds of individual rivers of the Middle Dnieper sub-basin—in the Sumy and Poltava regions.
Where Precipitation Exceeded the Monthly Average
The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center reported that 108–238% of the monthly precipitation norm fell during September within the river basins of:
the central part of Ukraine;
on the Left Bank.
Meanwhile, in the Sula River sub-basin (Sumy, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions), 274% of the monthly precipitation norm fell.
Did the September rains change the situation on the rivers?
Ukrainians were told that during the first month of fall, the country’s rivers “remained in a largely unchanged state of low fall low-water conditions.”
In other words, the occurrence of localized moderate rains generally did not cause a significant change in the situation.
“Water levels on the vast majority of the country’s rivers continued to decline in September,” emphasized experts from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
Where water levels are near record lows
As of the end of September, water levels remained close to the lowest on record (over many years):
on most rivers in the Carpathians;
in certain sections of the Pripyat’s tributaries;
on rivers in the Middle Dnieper subbasin (in Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions);
on the Southern Bug (in Vinnytsia Oblast).
Which Ukrainian rivers are becoming overgrown
According to information from experts at the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, significant overgrowth of riverbeds with aquatic vegetation is observed:
on most of the country’s lowland rivers;
on the Dniester;
on some of its tributaries in the Lviv region.
Where water levels have fallen below the ecological norm
A complex hydrological situation, associated with river flows remaining below ecological flow rates, was observed throughout September 2026 (as a percentage of the ecological flow rate):
on the tributaries of the Pripyat—the Styr River (Mlynok station—79%), the Horyn River (Ozhenyn station—67%, Derazhne—93%), and Ubor’t (Rudnya Ivanivska station—86%);
on the rivers of the Middle Dnieper subbasin—the Ros (Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi station—99%), Sula (Romny station—69%), and Psel (Hadyach station—95%) rivers;
on the Dniester (Galich station—80% and Zalishchyky station—71%);
on the Uzh River (Uzhhorod monitoring station—65%);
on the Western Bug (Lytovezh station—66%);
on the Southern Bug (Trostyanchyk station—41% and Pyrohivtsi station—48%).
“This is critical for the functioning of river ecosystems,” the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center emphasized.
Which rivers have practically stopped flowing
Finally, experts reported that as of the end of September, a lack of river flow was observed:
on the Pripyat (at the hydrological stations of Richytsia and Lyubiaz);
on its tributary, the Stokhid River (near the Lyubeshiv station);
on the Trubizh River, a tributary of the Middle Dnieper (Pereyaslav station).
This information is based on a Facebook post by the press service of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
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In Kyiv, following the Russian attack on the night of August 8, minor oil contamination was again detected in Lake Kyrylivske and the Syrets Stream.
