Tens of thousands of Moldovans have been cut off from drinking water after a Russian strike on Ukraine’s Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant polluted the Dniester River with oil. The contamination has disrupted supplies in Balti and several other towns, forcing residents to rely on emergency distribution points.
Authorities said the strike caused a major oil spill that flowed downstream into Moldova, threatening the country’s water security. The environment ministry declared a 15-day state of environmental alert, while emergency services began distributing non-potable water to affected communities.
President Maia Sandu directly blamed Russia for the crisis, stating that the attack not only targeted Ukraine but also endangered Moldova’s population. She emphasized that the incident highlights the broader consequences of the ongoing war spilling across borders.
Residents in Balti, Moldova’s second-largest city, were seen filling containers at distribution stations as officials worked to restore safe supplies. The government has urged citizens to conserve water and avoid using contaminated sources until further notice.
The European Union expressed concern over the environmental fallout, noting that the strike demonstrates how the conflict’s impact extends beyond Ukraine. Analysts warn that the disruption of water supplies could deepen humanitarian challenges in Moldova if the situation persists.
