Nowadays the Republic of Kalmykia deals with the problems that are common for the majority of the Russian subjects: poverty, demographic decline and at the same time, faces challenges due to its geographic location. Its land is undergoing aridification despite the efforts of eco activists. The overwhelming majority of the republic's territory is void of surface water; the public plumbing is worn down, the water is undrinkable; in small settlements where > 50% population lives, people dig wells and there’s always a possibility that the water is high in minerals and salts, rendering it unusable even for livestock. Climate change is also a concern. In 2020, a heatwave wrought havoc on the steppes, making thousands of animals die of starvation and livestock farmers go bankrupt.