Kyiv, Ukraine – To extract water from tree leaves, branches are wrapped in a plastic bag for several hours. The evaporated liquid is drinkable after boiling.

That is not a survivalist tip, but a life hack from the Russia-occupied part of the parched Donbas region in Ukraine’s southeast that went viral in recent months.

The majority of the region’s estimated population of 3.5 million people are believed to be suffering from a worsening man-made drought after years of shelling destroyed the arid region’s sophisticated water supply system, according to residents, Moscow-backed separatist authorities and Ukrainian officials.

Meanwhile, uncontrolled mining is poisoning the remaining water sources with chemicals, methane, carcinogens and radioactive isotopes. Experts have warned that the Don

See Full Page