Moldovan authorities step up prevention, response measures on Dniester, amid anticipated new pollution wave

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu has ordered the convening of an emergency meeting on the platform of the National Crisis Management Center (CNMC), in light of early-warning information on a possible new wave of oil products that could reach the national section of the Dniester River.According to data presented during the meeting, the rising water level, caused solely by precipitation and controlled discharges from reservoirs, may carry downstream oil residues previously accumulated in riverbank and reed-bed areas on the Ukrainian side.

Ukrainian authorities have already started interventions on their section of the river, while institutions of Moldova are operating under maximum mobilization for the next 24–72 hours.

At this stage, the authorities confirm that the film of oil products has not passed the installed containment barriers and, for the moment, no pollution patches have been detected in the Otaci area. The situation remains under constant monitoring.

In this context, national authorities are undertaking the following measures:

- strengthening and extending existing anti-pollution barriers, including the installation of new retention points;

- boosting the exchange of absorbent materials and increasing the number of field teams;

- continuous monitoring of the situation, including the use of drones in the border area;

- taking water samples twice a day, including downstream of the barriers, to assess the effectiveness of interventions and any potential leaks.

A new set of analyses will be carried out in Naslavcea and Cosauti on April 4 morning, in order to confirm the evolution of water quality indicators.

The authorities emphasize that, at this point, there is no basis for declaring an alert state or imposing restrictions on water use. However, the situation is being continuously monitored, and any decision will be taken based on laboratory test results.

Moldova continues to benefit from support on behalf of EU partners through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism and through bilateral arrangements. A new batch of assistance from Slovakia was received today, which will help improve field intervention capacities.

The authorities stay on high alert, are acting rapidly on the ground and will continue to inform the public transparently about the evolution of the situation and the measures taken.