Yakutsk's crumbling apartments spark health crisis as sewage leaks go ignored

YAKUTIA.INFO – Public activist Lyudmila Nemykina has warned of a critical sanitary and epidemiological crisis in three apartment buildings in Yakutsk. A corresponding video was published by the Telegram channel Honest Yakutia.

Residents of the buildings at 7/24, 7/25, and 7/27 Zhornitsky Street have complained of persistent sewage leaks, which have led to a pungent hydrogen sulfide odor in their apartments and erosion of the foundations.

During an on-site inspection, Nemykina stated that the problem is systemic and poses a serious health risk to local residents, including children.

"This can cause cancer. The fumes are toxic—you can't get used to them. The complex used to be cozy, but the management companies have ruined everything with these leaks," Nemykina says in the video.

Residents showed the activist the aftermath of the utility failure during the inspection. Fecal matter has surfaced on the grounds, and a children's playground has been flooded. Pyotr Shepelev, the blogger who filmed the video, reported allergic reactions and tearing caused by the fumes. Locals fear the buildings "are sinking and could collapse" due to soil and pile erosion.

Nemykina urged residents to immediately initiate proceedings to replace the management company and to petition regulatory authorities for a major overhaul of the utility systems.

"Don't show loyalty to these management companies—demand real solutions. They're getting rich off the residents while people scrape together their last rubles to live in filth," Nemykina concluded.

As a reminder, starting January 1, 2026, Yakutsk's administration will gain expanded oversight powers over the housing sector, aimed at addressing long-standing issues in utility services.

In mid-January, city officials announced the launch of a housing oversight call center. Residents will be able to report violations and housing-related problems by calling 300-888 on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

As of publication, neither Yakutsk's city administration nor the management companies responsible for the buildings at 7/24, 7/25, and 7/27 Zhornitsky Street have provided official comments on the situation.