DOC // Paliament’s statement condemning Russia for polluting Dniester river published in Official Journal

Parliament’s statement condemning the Russian Federation for the cross‑border pollution of the Dniester River and the damage caused to the security of water supply and public health of the population of the Republic of Moldova was published in today’s issue of the Official Journal.

The published document refers to the serious consequences of the massive military attack launched by the Russian Federation on 7 March 2026 against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including the Novodnestrovsk Hydropower Complex located in Chernivtsi region. Following the attack, significant quantities of petroleum products were discharged into the Dniester River, the main source of drinking water for the Republic of Moldova, creating a major risk to public health, including acute poisoning and possible carcinogenic effects.

"The total volume of petroleum products discharged into the Dniester River exceeds 1.5 tons, creating a major and imminent risk for the environment, water resources, biodiversity, public health, the security of water supply and the vital interests of the state and the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," the statement reads.

The document further notes that the incident has triggered a major environmental crisis, affecting the environment, public health and water supply in several localities in the northern districts of the country, including the municipality of Bălți, the second largest city in the Republic of Moldova. Given the gravity of the situation, the authorities declared an environmental alert for a period of 15 days and took urgent measures to limit the effects of the pollution.

Through the adopted statement, the legislature condemned the actions of the Russian Federation, which it considers directly responsible for the contamination of the Dniester River and its consequences for the Republic of Moldova. The Parliament also denounces disinformation related to this case and urges citizens to seek information from credible sources.

"The Dniester River is the main source of drinking water for the Republic of Moldova, and its cross‑border contamination is a direct consequence of the armed attack by the Russian Federation, which was fully aware of the specific nature of the targeted critical infrastructure and the inevitable character of the resulting ecological catastrophe. The Russian Federation is the state responsible for the ecological and humanitarian crisis in the Republic of Moldova, as well as for any possible long‑term negative consequences for the health of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," the document states.

The document calls on the responsible institutions to take the necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the pollution and to ensure objective and prompt information of citizens. At the same time, Parliament calls on the international community, national parliaments and governments to exert pressure on the Russian Federation to stop attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

Through this statement, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova reaffirms its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and expresses gratitude to external partners, including Romania and the European Union, for the support provided in managing the situation and alleviating the negative effects of the discharge of polluting substances into the Dniester River.