The European Council strongly condemned Russia for attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine that led to contamination of the Dniester River. The statement appears in the conclusions adopted on March 19, in a section dedicated specifically to the situation on the Dniester, according to NewsMaker.
“The European Union is ready to provide assistance to the Republic of Moldova to mitigate environmental impacts, including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. In this context, the European Council welcomes the immediate support provided by member states,” the document states.
The March 19 conclusions also addressed key topics on the European agenda, including the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, European defence and security, competitiveness, the single market, and migration.
Authorities in Moldova declared an environmental alert on March 15 for a 15-day period in the Dniester River basin after detecting a wave of pollution with petroleum products that affected several sections of the river.
Officials first observed the oil substance on the water surface on March 10, after which they launched immediate intervention measures and collected samples to determine its nature and associated risks.
Residents of Balti, Floresti, Soroca, Singerei, and Naslavcea were left without water for about nine days. On March 20, Alexandr Petkov announced that authorities have gradually restored the water supply in several areas of Balti after the interruptions.