Russian strike on the Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant threatens Moldova's water supply: Sandu
A missile attack on a station in Chernivtsi Oblast created environmental risks for the Dniester and could cause disruptions to the drinking water supply for Moldovan cities
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that after a Russian strike on the Novodnistrovsk Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Chernivtsi region, an environmental threat to the Dniester River has emerged that could affect the country’s water supply; an environmental alert has been declared in Moldova.
The head of state reported this on the platform X, emphasizing the scale of the risks to the population and water supply infrastructure.
“Russia’s attack on the Novodnistrovsk Hydroelectric Power Plant in Ukraine led to an oil spill into the Dniester River, threatening Moldova’s water supply. We have declared an environmental alert and are acting to protect our people”
According to specialists, a survey of the river after the shelling found traces of technical oils in the water. Preliminary assessments by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Ecology indicate that the source of the contamination may be a leak of rocket fuel.
Flows of contaminated water are already moving downstream, and the first traces have been recorded in the area of the Moldovan village of Naslavcha, increasing risks for water consumers on both banks of the Dniester.
Chisinau responded by declaring an environmental alert and appealing to the European Union for assistance to strengthen monitoring, coordination and response to the spill’s consequences.
Sandu also emphasized the responsibility of the aggressor state for the incident.
“Russia bears full responsibility”
Ukraine and Moldova have agreed on joint appeals to international organizations calling for condemnation of Russia’s actions that caused damage to hydroelectric infrastructure and pollution of the Dniester, and for appropriate response measures to be taken.
Earlier we wrote:
- Ukraine loses its best: a young officer, father of two, was killed at the front
- Mykolaiv region spent a day without shelling
- Europeans are donating another 1.7 million Swiss francs for Mykolaiv’s water supply
- Accident in the Kerch Strait: an environmental catastrophe threatens the Black and Azov Seas
- Heads of foreign diplomatic missions from 20 countries visited Mykolaiv
