Environmental authorities of Moldova monitor oily patches noticed on Dniester River upstream from Naslavcea

The environmental institutions of Moldova have gone into the field, in order to verify reports about the appearance of oily patches on the Dniester River, upstream from the locality of Naslavcea. The authorities announce that the situation is being monitored and that water samples have already been taken to determine precisely the water quality and the possible source of the pollution.

According to representatives of the environmental institutions, specialized teams went to the targeted area after videos and social media posts showing suspicious patches on the water surface appeared in the public space.

"Following reports of oily patches upstream from the locality of Naslavcea, all environmental institutions are in the field and monitoring the situation," the authorities said.

Specialists from the Environmental Laboratory of the Environment Agency collected water samples from more points located downstream from the area where the patches were noticed. Laboratory analyses are expected to determine whether there are pollutants in the water and whether they may pose a risk to the environment or the population.

"The Environmental Laboratory team collected water samples from more downstream points for analysis, so that we can have a clear, data-based picture of the water quality," the environmental authority specified.

In parallel, the public institution National Administration "Apele Moldovei" (Waters of Moldova) initiated cooperation steps with the authorities of Ukraine, in order to clarify the situation. According to the institution, an official request for information has already been sent to the Ukrainian side, in order to identify the possible source of the leaks and the potential impact on the course of the Dniester River.

"Our colleagues from the National Administration 'Apele Moldovei' are in direct contact with the Ukrainian side, to whom we have sent an official request for information to clarify the origin and impact of the leaks," the Environment Ministry says.

The reaction of the environmental institutions came after multiple images and comments about a possible pollution of the Dniester were shared on social networks. Among them, there is a post by former MP Alexandru Cimbriciuc, who claimed that the patches noticed on the water could originate from the Novodnestrovsk hydropower plant.

In his message, the former lawmaker suggested that the leaks might have appeared following an attack on energy infrastructure of Ukraine and urged residents of localities along the Dniester to stock up on drinking water. For now, however, this information has not been officially confirmed by the competent authorities.

Environmental institutions of Moldova emphasize that the situation continues to be analyzed and that the results of the laboratory tests will provide concrete data on water quality and any potential risks.

"The situation is under constant monitoring. We will return with details as soon as we have the results of the laboratory analyses," the ecologists also said. The Dniester River is one of the main water sources of Moldova, and the authorities say that promptly checking any suspicion of pollution is essential for protecting the environment and the population.