Since the start of 2026, 135 people have died in water-related incidents in Ukraine, while 74 were rescued, according to Viktor Vitovetsky, director of the Department of Civil Protection and Preventive Activities at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
“Since the beginning of the year—that is, over the past four months—135 people have died. These are deaths that occurred in bodies of water. Unfortunately, 10 of them were children. Although this is a lower percentage than during the same period last year, you know, that is little consolation, because it is very difficult to measure a life using any kind of statistics,” Vitovetsky said, noting that 44% fewer people died in the water in 2026 than during the same period last year.
In addition, Vitovetsky reported that 74 people were rescued, including 23 children.
