The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, stated that the missile strike on the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant, carried out by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory, has caused a significant oil spill into the waters of the Dniester. According to her, this situation poses a serious threat to the water supply of Moldovan cities.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Moldovan Authorities’ Response to the Environmental Threat
As a result of the Russian attack that occurred in early March, a large quantity of petroleum products entered the Dniester River. Since March 12, Moldovan emergency services have been working to mitigate the effects of the pollution and are trying to minimize environmental risks for the country’s population.
Despite the installation of a special filter on the surface of the river, oil slicks have continued to move downstream, bypassing the city of Soroca — the largest settlement in Moldova on the border with Ukraine. This has raised particular concern, as the situation may impact the water supply of the country’s capital, Chișinău.
Appeal for International Assistance
In response to the increasing risk to the environment and drinking water, Moldovan authorities have declared an environmental alarm and have reached out to Romania for assistance in addressing the consequences of the pollution. Official Chișinău is currently working on organizing joint actions with neighboring states to clean up the Dniester and protect the health of citizens.
“We have declared an environmental alarm and are taking action to protect our people. Russia bears full responsibility.”