Moldova declares environmental alert as Russian strike pollutes key water supply
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Authorities in Moldova declared a 15-day environmental alert in the Dniester River basin after oil contamination linked to a Russian strike on Ukraine's Novodnistrovsk Hydropower Plant threatened the country's water supply, President Maia Sandu said on March 15.
The emergency measures show the cross-border environmental risks posed by Russia's attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which have increasingly affected neighboring states.
"We declared an environmental alert and are acting to protect our people," Sandu said.
Government analyses showed petroleum products and aromatic hydrocarbons in river water exceeded safety limits, prompting authorities to introduce containment measures.
Officials plan to install additional barriers at the Dubasari Reservoir to prevent the spread of pollutants and to assess water wells that could serve as alternative sources.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said the government's "primary objective is the protection of public health," urging citizens to rely only on official information as authorities monitor the situation and coordinate with international teams deployed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said Bucharest would assist Chisinau in addressing the environmental threat and emphasized Moscow's responsibility for the attack.
"Russia has full responsibility," Toiu said on X.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova — a small landlocked country — has faced mounting security and political pressure that authorities have linked to Moscow.
The incident comes just a day after a Russian Shahed-type attack drone violated Moldova's airspace during a large-scale overnight strike against Ukraine.
Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi condemned the breach, saying Russia's war against Ukraine threatens regional security and the safety of Moldovan citizens.
