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yesterday

EU Condemns River Pollution From Russian Strike as Northern Moldova Begins Restoring Water

Full restoration remains contingent on consecutive clean analyses of Dniester water.

People fill containers with drinking water distributed by the emergency services in Balti, Moldova, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
People fill containers with non-potable water distributed by the emergency services in Balti, Moldova, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
Chemical absorbent booms are placed in the Dniester river in Curesnita, Moldova, on the border with Ukraine, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)
Valentin Belischii, 73 years-old, pauses on a bench before climbing the stairs to his fourth floor apartment with a container of water he bought in Balti, Moldova, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Overview

  • Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities link the contamination to the March 7 strike on the Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant just upstream of Moldova.
  • Bălți and surrounding districts lost running water for days, prompting school disruptions and military deliveries of drinking water.
  • Ukrainian testing found oil products about 2.5 times and barium 3–6 times above permissible limits, leading to containment booms and sorbent deployment.
  • Moldova declared a 15-day environmental alert, opened a criminal case, and summoned Russia’s ambassador, while the Russian embassy publicly disputed responsibility.
  • The EU activated its Civil Protection Mechanism and member states sent equipment as Ukraine and Moldova coordinate sampling and seek international laboratory support.