Drowning in Water Bodies: Alarming Statistics at the Beginning of the Year in Ukraine.

79 drowning victims in Ukraine's water bodies since the beginning of the year

Since the beginning of 2025, 79 people have lost their lives in Ukraine's water bodies, including six children. This is reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES).

SES press officer Oleksandr Khorunzhyi emphasizes this statistic during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine. He highlights that this data is актуальним as of February 20. Khorunzhyi asserts that tragic incidents occur daily on the water due to neglect of safety rules.

«Despite the fact that ice is dangerous, men venture onto the ice, risking their lives. By the way, the most accidents occur on rivers - 46, and on ponds - 33», highlighted Khorunzhyi.

According to SES, the main causes of deaths in water bodies are as follows:

• 48 cases with unspecified circumstances;
• 16 cases during fishing;
• 7 cases due to violation of behavior rules;
• 6 accidents;
• 2 deaths due to intoxication.

The highest number of victims has been recorded in Kyiv region - 10 people. 8 people died in Vinnytsia region, 7 each in Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. 6 people died in Kharkiv region, and 5 in Chernihiv region.

Despite conducting more than 3000 explanatory events, during which SES explained water behavior rules in winter, people still disregarded the information and went onto dangerous ice coverage. At the same Time, since the beginning of the year, six children have died. A vivid illustration of a tragic case can be observed in Kherson region, where four children from one family fell through the ice.

Rescue workers managed to save 68 people, including 20 children.

SES urges citizens to refrain from going onto the ice during dangerous weather conditions and to adhere to safety rules. Ice thickness of less than 7 cm is dangerous and one should not stay on it; ice thickness of at least 10-12 cm is considered safe.

Earlier in February, in Odesa region, three children fell through the ice, and they could not be rescued. Also, in Dnipropetrovsk region, two 15-year-olds fell under the ice, but they were saved.