A heavy downpour that hit Odesa at the end of September and took lives of 10 people once again exposed one of the city’s most pressing infrastructure issues, namely the low capacity of its drainage systems. One and a half months’ worth of rain fell in 24 hours and caused severe flooding damaging 868 buildings, including 286 family houses and 582 condominiums where 723 apartments were damaged.

According to the Odesa City Council, the estimated damages exceed UAH 130 million. 220 consumers remain without electricity, and utility services continue to pump out water and clear storm drains.

Experts note that flooding in Odesa is a chronic issue. The drainage system, built in the mid-20th century, was not designed for modern loads and cannot handle the increased rainfall amounts driven by climate change. In many parts of the city, especially in lowlands, storm drains are worn out, clogged, or partially destroyed, leading to water accumulation on the streets even after short rains.

A similar situation has occurred in Lviv. On July 10, 2025, the city experienced severe flooding due to a shower that brought over 110 mm of rainfall in 12 hours which is record high for that month. Streets and surrounding areas were submerged, with water levels reaching nearly three meters in some places, flooding cars, underground parking lots, and basements in residential houses. More reading.

Experts point out that the main causes of flooding in Lviv are typical for large cities: outdated utility networks, combined sewer systems, and inadequate maintenance pose risks of flooding even after short rains. Large-scale construction without proper infrastructure planning exacerbates the problem: new buildings are often erected without additional drainage systems, and green spaces that once absorbed water are replaced with asphalt and paving stones.

The consequences of flooding in both cities were significant resulting in damaged infrastructure, disrupted transportation, and ongoing efforts by utility services to pump out water and clear the storm drains. Experts emphasize that without major modernization of drainage systems, Odesa and Lviv risk facing similar flooding during future rainfalls.

Examples of flooding in other Ukrainian cities, such as Kharkiv and Kyiv, confirm that drainage issues are not unique to Odesa and Lviv but are a widespread challenge across Ukraine. Local authorities are committed to developing strategies to upgrade the drainage systems to prevent such situations in the future and ensure reliable and resilient infrastructure.

While rebuilding the infrastructure damaged by enemy attacks remains the country’s primary concern, Ukrainians continue to face long-standing infrastructure challenges. The issue of modernizing drainage systems has remained unresolved for decades, and consequences of another disaster underscore its urgency.

“The situation in Odesa and other cities once again demonstrates the importance of addressing urban infrastructure issues in a systematic and professional manner. Drainage problems cannot be solved with temporary measures alone—a thorough technical analysis, modern design solutions, and clear management of implementation processes are needed.

“It may be appropriate to involve the professional community more, including consulting engineers, who can help cities not only respond promptly to the consequences of natural disasters but also prevent such situations in the future by creating reliable and resilient infrastructure,” says Oleksandr Nepomnyashchyy, President of ICEG.