After the Russian Federation’s attack, technical lubricants entered the Dniester River: the pollution reached Moldova
12 March 20:48
After the Russian attack on infrastructure in the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant area, technical oils leaked into the Dniester River.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, the pollution spread downstream and reached the territory of Moldova, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
The ministry said that such actions are a transboundary environmental threat caused by the Russian attack.
When the pollution was detected
On the night of March 7, 2026, Russia carried out a massive attack on facilities in the area of the hydroelectric power plant.
On March 10, spots of technical oils were found in the Dniester River near the village of Lyadova in the Vinnytsia region.
According to preliminary data, they could have entered the water due to a leak of transformer oils from the hydroelectric power plant infrastructure damaged during the attack.
The pollution reached Moldova
The oil slick spread downstream and was also detected in the area of the village of Naslavcha in Moldova.
The Ukrainian government has announced that it is coordinating actions with the Moldovan side within the framework of the Dniester Commission.
How the consequences are being eliminated
Units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are involved in cleaning up the pollution.
In particular, the following measures are planned:
- installing boom barriers
- using sorbents to collect oil
- localizing the pollution in the water.
Why is this dangerous
The Dniester is one of the key sources of water supply for:
- Odessa
- Chisinau.
Therefore, pollution of the river can pose a risk to water supply and aquatic ecosystems.
Attacks on energy infrastructure
According to Ukrainian authorities, since October 2025, Russian troops have attacked:
- 11 hydroelectric power plants
- 45 large thermal power plants.
Meanwhile, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has agreed to provide Ukrhydroenergo with a €75 million loan to modernize and restore Ukraine’s hydroelectric power plants.
