Authorities said the oil slick crossed the border and is moving toward populated areas. Emergency crews and international partners are racing to protect water intakes.
On the evening of March 15, Moldova’s president Maia Sandu said that the Russian attack on the Dniester Hydroelectric Station led to an oil spill into the Dniester River and threatens the country’s water supply.
We have declared an environmental emergency and are acting to protect our people. Russia bears full responsibility
– Maia Sandu
Since March 12, Moldovan authorities have been working to mitigate the consequences of the large-scale spill following the missile strike on the Dniester HPP on the Ukrainian side of the border, which occurred at the start of the month.
Despite the presence of a surface filter, the oil slick is moving downstream, bypassing the city of Soroca, which is the largest Moldovan settlement near the border.
Moldova has asked Romania for assistance in cleaning the river, as the spill threatens the water supply of Chișinău.
The government continues to coordinate actions with partner countries and is working to minimize ecological and water-management risks for the population.