Moldovan Prime Minister Appeals to the European Union
Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu has formally requested assistance from the European Union to address severe pollution in the Dniester River, a crisis triggered by Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. The contamination was first detected on March 10, 2026, near the village of Liadova in Ukraine's Vinnytsia region. The preliminary cause is a leak of transformer oil from facilities near the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant in Ukraine's Chernivtsi region, which was damaged in a Russian strike on March 7. The Dniester is a vital water source for Moldova, making this incident a direct threat to its water security.
Pollution has been confirmed on Moldovan territory near the village of Naslavcea, where authorities have declared a 'yellow' alert level. A mobile laboratory is collecting water samples every six hours to monitor the situation. Response efforts involve Moldovan rescue units, the National Army, the Apele Moldovei water agency, and environmental bodies, with Ukrainian services working from their side of the river. Romanian specialists are assisting by deploying additional filters to improve water quality.
Measures to Tackle the Environmental Crisis
“I have asked our European partners for support to quickly mobilize teams of specialists and the necessary equipment to manage the situation on the ground.”
Alexandru Munteanu
Moldovan authorities are considering temporarily suspending water supplies to some settlements in the country's north. Additional filters have been installed, and straw bales—an effective method for containing petroleum substances—are being used in the water. The Prime Minister stated, 'While Russia continues to attack a neighboring state, our international partners stand with us.'
To combat the pollution, plans are underway to deploy modern equipment for containing, capturing, and collecting oil slicks from the water, alongside mobile labs for water quality testing. These actions form part of a broader effort to manage an environmental crisis stemming from external aggression.
This incident underscores the severe cross-border environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine, demonstrating how regional stability and ecology are interconnected. Munteanu's appeal to the EU highlights the urgent need for international cooperation in addressing large-scale environmental disasters caused by warfare. The joint efforts of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania may serve as a critical example of regional collaboration in solving ecological problems triggered by external factors.