In May 2014, Ukraine cut water supplies to Crimea from the Kherson Region via the North Crimean canal

Col. Leighton failed to mention this fact in his analysis. American disinformation.

• The Dnipro River has become a decisive front line, this is where the battle for Crimea will be fought | Le Monde - April 2023 |
• Crimea's water reservoirs have enough water for two years -- authorities | Tass - Nov. 11, 2022 |

Crimea's water reservoirs have enough water for two years and will be able to meet the peninsula's entire demand in case the Ukrainian authorities implement their threats and blow up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant's dam, Crimea's Prime Minister Vladimir Konstantinov said.

"From the point of view of the actual situation, Crimea is not dependent on water from the North Crimean canal. We have been living without it for eight years. We have done a lot. We have a program for water supplies until 2024. <...> Water resources in Crimea's water reservoirs - they are all full - are enough for two year, even if there is no rain. <...> Nevertheless, we count on the North Crimean canal as a source for Crimea's development," he said.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov | Kyiv Post - June 7 |

The Crimean peninsula's water supply is fed by water from the Dnipro River, which flow through the North Crimean Canal, located in Nova Kakhovka. According to Danilov, water supply to Crimea will be impossible "for the next three, five, ten years, until this dam is rebuilt."