Moldova: Environmental alarm on Dniestra after Russian attack in Ukraine

The Moldovan government announced a state of ecological alarm on Dniestra following Russian attacks in Ukraine on 7 March and getting oil from the power plant to the river. According to Radio Europa, respective areas in the north of the country stay without water supply.

"As a consequence of the Russian attack on the water power plant in Nowaestrowsk in the Chernovese region of Ukraine [at the border with Moldova – PAP], oil has been leaked into the Dniestr River, which poses a threat to Moldova's water supply", said Moldova's president Maia Sandu on platform X.

At the same time, it informed about the introduction of an environmental alert and the taking of measures to defend citizens. "Russia has full work for this", the president stressed.

According to the authorities in Chisinau, as a consequence of Russian shelling on 7 March, which was aimed, among others, at the Ukrainian hydroelectric power plant, transformer oil and possibly rocket fuel entered the river. Oil stains were spotted 3 days later close Otati in the north of the country where Dniestr affects Moldova.

The Chisinau requested assistance from the Romanian authorities on 12 March. The rescue teams of both countries have installed in fresh days at least 5 dams and filters on Dniestra in its northern section – Radio Europa reported. As of 14 March, water supplies were temporarily halted in respective northern areas until its quality was confirmed.

Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu acknowledged on Saturday that the situation was more serious than initially assumed by the authorities.