The President of Moldova Maia Sandu has announced that the Russian strike on the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric power-station caused an oil leak into the Dniester River. The Ukrainian power-station was struck during a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure across Ukraine last week. The facility, located on the Dniester River near the border with Moldova, plays an important role in regional electricity generation and water management.
According to President Sandu, the strike damaged equipment at the plant, leading to an oil spill that entered the river system. The Dniester River is a critical source of drinking water for Moldova, including the capital Chișinău, and authorities have begun monitoring water quality closely following the incident. Up to 1.5 tonnes of oil has already been spilled into the river according to various reports.
Moldovan officials said environmental agencies are working with Ukrainian counterparts to assess the scale of the spill and prevent further contamination downstream. Sandu warned that attacks on energy infrastructure close to international rivers pose risks that extend beyond Ukraine’s borders and could have direct consequences for neighbouring countries.
The incident has raised concerns about environmental damage linked to the war, as repeated strikes on power plants and industrial sites increase the risk of pollution affecting shared waterways in Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, Russia has resumed drone and missile atatcks against Ukrainian civilians earlier today and killed at least one Ukrainian civilian in the city of Chernihiv as a result.
Newsroom
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