Dniester River Contaminated by Russian Attack, Pollution Spills into Moldova

Contamination Details

Technical oils were detected in the Dniester River near the village of Lyadova in the Mohyliv-Podilskyi district of Vinnytsia Oblast following a series of Russian rocket and drone attacks on March 10. The pollution has traveled downstream to the village of Naslavcha in Moldova.

Source of Pollution

The contamination is linked to transformer oil leaks from the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Station in Chernivtsi Oblast, resulting from a previous attack on March 7, 2026. The Ministry of Economy, along with the State Emergency Service and local administrations, is consulting on response measures.

Response Efforts

Deputy Minister Iryna Ovcharenko labeled the situation as ecological aggression by Russia, highlighting the transboundary threat to water security. Authorities in both Vinnytsia and Odesa regions are meeting to coordinate actions for managing the disaster and containment of pollutants.

Ukrainian officials have informed their Moldovan counterparts about the pollution, and plans for joint action are underway. Emergency services are expected to erect barriers and use sorbents to contain the oil.

Environmental Impact

Water samples taken on March 10 near the contamination area revealed oily patches, and observations near Kozliv noted a greasy film. Significantly, rainbow-like oil films covered large portions of the river near Nahoryany, where pollution levels exceeded regulatory limits by 2.5 times.

Monitoring Measures

To monitor the extent of contamination, further water samples were collected on March 11 near Odesa’s drinking water intake. An extraordinary meeting of the Dniester Commission was convened on March 12 to align efforts between Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities.

The Dniester River serves as a vital water source for both Odesa and Chișinău, making the pollution a serious threat to public health and the aquatic ecosystem.