Residents of Gukovo complained about a lack of water.

The mining towns of Gukovo and Zverevo in the Rostov Region have been without water for six days. Authorities, after reporting on the progress of repairs, announced that the water supply had already been restored, but water is still not reaching residents on the upper floors. Residents say they are forced to melt snow and buy water.

Rostov Region Housing and Utilities Minister Antonina Pshenichnaya reported today that water supply to Zverevo is "running on schedule," while in Gukovo the pressure has been reduced, "which is especially noticeable to residents on the upper floors." Outlying villages (Gukovskaya, Antratsit, Shakhty 24, and Platovo village) are experiencing interruptions—water is either supplied intermittently or is completely out of service, as NS-5 and NS-6 continue to fill and undergo pressure testing. The primary focus will now be on the upper floors and the aforementioned villages—the most remote point where water supply interruptions still persist. "A separate water truck has been assigned to the villages to provide residents with water," she reported today on her Telegram channel, assuring that all requests for water delivery are being processed.

According to reports from the Gukovo administration, the main water main breakdown occurred on January 16th. On January 17th, authorities reported the repairs were complete, but on January 18th, they reported a new breakdown, citing a restoration date of January 20th.

Elena, a mother of three, only managed to get water from a water truck once. "We're all chasing after the water trucks. I saw a truck in another neighborhood and rushed over. The lines are huge. We've been submitting a request for delivery since Saturday, but we still haven't received it. They haven't even included our neighborhood in the schedule. "There's still heating in apartment buildings, but people are being warned not to fill their radiators with water, or else there won't be any," the Telegram channel "Mozhem Obymen"* quotes her as saying.

According to her, the authorities have repeatedly postponed the water supply restoration deadline. "First they promised the 16th, then they promised that water would start tonight, but no one even hears a faucet running. Public tension is growing, not so much about the situation, but about the authorities' attitude toward the people. There are still no normal delivery schedules. The news said there are 11 water trucks operating throughout the city, but in fact there are three. If they weren't lying, we would have gone to stay with relatives in another city," she complained.

Water prices in stores have skyrocketed following the accident. "Today I bought three 19-liter bottles for 1,860 rubles. We're melting snow to wash dishes and flush the toilet. Yesterday, to wash the kids, we had to melt a lot of snow. We melt it on the stove, which is what keeps it warm, and we bathe in a basin," said Daria.

"The whole of Gukovo is melting snow, and my water supply ran out long ago. My husband managed to buy water with lemon, so we're drinking this for now. This is simply a mockery of humanity. People are running around the stores, looking for any remaining water. Schools are distance learning, kindergartens are closed. We're asking for a state of emergency to be declared, but management doesn't care; people have lost faith in their latest promises," Marina is quoted in the publication.

Antonina Pshenichnaya's post about restoring water service has 39 comments. "When will the water pressure in Gukovo return to normal so everyone can have water? The third floor, even with the pump, isn't getting up to speed!" asked user 42826.

"On Nekrasov Street (near the technical school and boarding school), most houses have been without water for six days! Take action!" he also exclaimed indignantly.

"The Oktyabrskaya mine village has been without water for six days now, and there's no water supply! There are a lot of pensioners!!! They still haven't opened the valve for us today. The snow in the yard is running out. How can we reduce the pressure of something that doesn't exist? It's mostly in the private sector. They have no idea whether the pipes are frozen or not. Many people's gas boilers are running out of water!" - wrote Irina Tikhonova.

"When can we expect water in the village of Pervomaysky and the hamlet of Molakansky in the Krasnosulinsky District? There's still no water! The District Head and the Administration are silent, and all they can do is repost uninteresting news. Water supplies weren't organized; we had to travel to the neighboring town of Zverevo and catch water trucks there via the 112th highway! How much longer will this go on?" - Maxim demanded an answer.

"What do you mean, 'water in Zverevo is on schedule'? Right now there's no water on the 5th floor. There's none at all," Svetlana reported.