Pressmeddelande -
Wayout and the Government of Ukraine Sign Agreement to Restore Safe Drinking Water in the Kherson Region
For thousands of families in southern Ukraine, the simple act of turning on a tap has become impossible. Since the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, entire communities in the Kherson region have been left without reliable access to safe drinking water. Wells have dried up or become contaminated, centralized water systems have been damaged beyond repair, and civilians, many living close to the front line are forced to rely on unsafe sources or emergency deliveries. The lack of clean water has become one of the most urgent and silent humanitarian crises in the region.
In response to this critical situation, the Swedish WaterTech company Wayout and the Government of Ukraine have signed an agreement to deploy decentralized drinking water systems across the Kherson region, helping restore access to safe, locally produced water for communities that have lost it.
The collaboration has its roots in international dialogue and shared responsibility. During COP28 in Dubai, the Swedish Embassy hosted its official reception at Wayout’s showroom, bringing together representatives from government, industry, and the international community. Among the participants was Sweden’s Minister for Climate and the Environment, Romina Pourmokhtari, who met with Wayout’s founder, Ulf Stenerhag. Their discussion centred on a common understanding: that access to clean drinking water is not only a humanitarian necessity, but a prerequisite for stability, health, and recovery in conflict-affected regions.
That shared perspective was later carried forward to Ukrainian counterparts and evolved into a constructive, solution-oriented dialogue focused on long-term, decentralized water infrastructure systems that do not depend on damaged pipelines, large treatment plants, or vulnerable supply chains.
In June 2025, this work culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Swedish Embassy in Kyiv between Wayout and the Government of Ukraine. MOU covers the delivery of 40 decentralized Wayout water systems, with the capacity to provide safe drinking water to approximately 400,000 people across the Kherson region, one of the areas most severely affected by the destruction of critical water infrastructure following the dam collapse caused by Russian military actions. Currently only 134,000 people are living there but the ambition is to build up a future proof infrastructure for when people are returning to the region after the war. The Kherson region had a population of approximately 490,000 prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Unlike traditional centralized solutions, the Wayout systems produce drinking water locally, using advanced purification technology and safe delivery concept until point of consumption. This enables communities to become less dependent on vulnerable infrastructure, long transport routes, or bottled water deliveries while ensuring consistent access to clean water even in unstable conditions.
The initiative is supported by the Swedish Government and Business Sweden, and coordinated through Team Sweden, reflecting a strong national commitment to international cooperation. Wayout’s industrial partners including Siemens, Micro Matic, and Schäfer Container Systems have also contributed expertise and engagement, reinforcing a shared sense of responsibility across the value chain.
The contract for a first system has now been signed for the initial system, and financing is being put in place to begin water production for communities in urgent need.
The first Wayout system will be installed in the Velyka Oleksandrivka community, where it is expected to secure access to safe drinking water for approximately 10,000 people living in particularly vulnerable areas close to the front line.
“After the dam was destroyed, clean water almost disappeared from our daily lives. People were afraid to drink from wells, and families worried constantly about their children’s health. Knowing that we will soon have safe water produced here in our own community gives us hope and a sense of dignity again,” says a representative from the Velyka Oleksandrivka community.
Regional authorities emphasize the strategic importance of decentralized solutions in rebuilding essential services.
“The Kherson region has suffered enormous damage to its water infrastructure. Restoring centralized systems will take years. Decentralized solutions like the Wayout systems allow us to protect civilians now, reduce health risks, and rebuild resilience at the community level,” says Oleksandr Prokudin, the Governor of the Kherson region.
For Wayout, the project reflects the company’s core mission: making safe drinking water accessible anywhere, especially where traditional infrastructure has failed.
“This is exactly why Wayout exists. When pipelines are destroyed and logistics are fragile, water must be produced where people live. By enabling local, independent access to safe drinking water, we help communities regain control, stability, and a foundation for recovery,” says Ulf Stenerhag, Founder of Wayout.
Together, this collaboration represents more than a single deployment of technology. It is a collective commitment across borders and sectors to stand alongside affected communities, deliver practical solutions, and contribute to rebuilding life-essential infrastructure. By restoring access to safe drinking water, the partners involved aim to help create a stable foundation for recovery, health, dignity, and long-term resilience in southern Ukraine.
