President: Dniester - essential for people’s health and safety of our communities

The March 2026 crisis, triggered by Russian aggression against Ukraine, showed how much solidarity and the ability to act together in difficult times matter, President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu said today in a message delivered on Dniester Day.

The head of state stressed that the Dniester River has strategic importance for the Republic of Moldova, being essential for public health, agriculture, the economy, energy, and the safety of communities.


“The Dniester is essential for people’s health, agriculture, the economy, energy, and the safety of our communities. Its protection must remain a constant concern for all of us,” said Maia Sandu.


According to the President, the March 2026 crisis demonstrated the vulnerability of the Republic of Moldova when the security of natural resources is threatened. She noted the involvement of state institutions, field specialists, external partners, and civil society in managing the situation.


“State institutions, field specialists, external partners, and civil society helped manage one of the most complicated situations of recent years,” the head of state said.


At the same time, Maia Sandu mentioned that she thanked those involved in the interventions carried out to prevent more serious consequences and to protect the population.

Dniester Day is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of May.

The Dniester River, which springs from the Carpathian Mountains, has a length of 1,359 km and a total basin area of 72.1 thousand km², and is the most important water artery of the country. On the territory of the Republic of Moldova, the length of its course (Naslavcea–Palanca) is 636 km, and for a distance of 142.5 km the river forms the border between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

The water resources of the Dniester basin within the territory of the Republic of Moldova are estimated at 10,700 million m³, of which less than 30% is formed within the country. Thus, the Dniester supplies drinking water to about 80% of the country’s population and 99% of the population of the municipality of Chişinău.

The Dniester river basin has social and historical-cultural importance, as well as a vital role in providing high-quality water for the needs of agriculture and industry, in maintaining the ecological balance and, in general, in the sustainable development of the Republic of Moldova.