Luhansk region military-civilian administration head Hennadiy Moskal has given the order to bring water supplies to territories uncontrolled by the Kyiv authorities to a complete halt, following the discontinuation of the power supply to the Stanytsia Luhanska district.

The blackout in Stanytsia Luhanska and eight villages around it began on Wednesday afternoon, the Moskal press service has reported. The local power line had been previously damaged by shells, and the area was receiving electricity via a reserve line across territories uncontrolled by Kyiv. Moskal claimed that Ukraine was footing its electricity bills.

The governor said that the militia was barring repairmen from entering their territory. "Repairmen have tried to reach the damaged sections [of the power line] many times but to no avail. The blackout has disrupted the water supply to Stanytsia [Luhanska] and a part of the district, and mobile phone service is unstable," Moskal said.

"They are waging a war on our public utilities, and I cannot help but bring to a complete halt the water supply to the occupied territory. The order took effect at 9 a.m. The water supply will be restored as soon as they resume the power supply to Stanytsia and guarantee its stability. We will act like Ostap Bender did: we get electricity in the evening and give them water in the morning," the head of the regional administration said.