Levels of oil products and barium in Dniester River several times higher than permissible due to Russian attacks

Concentrations of oil products and barium in the Dniester River, which supplies up to 80% of Moldova's drinking water and has been polluted as a result of Russian attacks, exceed permissible levels.

Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture on its website

Details: Hazardous substances have entered the waters of the Dniester River following Russian strikes and firefighting at damaged facilities. The concentration of oil products is 2.5 times higher than permissible levels, while barium exceeds them by three to six times.

The pollution indirectly indicates a link with explosive substances, said Iryna Ovcharenko, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

"Russia is not only destroying the energy system – it is also committing ecocide through its actions. The pollution of the Dniester River is a direct consequence of Russian aggression," Ovcharenko said.

On Ukrainian territory, pollution has been recorded in the Dniester estuary. The ministry said that "all necessary measures" have been taken to prevent hazardous substances from reaching drinking water intakes, particularly near the village of Biliaivka and in Odesa.

Quote from the ministry: "Containment boom barriers have been installed, and sorbents are being used to localise and reduce the impact of the pollution.

Odesa Oblast Military Administration is continuously monitoring the situation, and water utilities have been given recommendations to enhance water purification. Sampling and laboratory analysis are ongoing."

Details: In addition, the Security Service of Ukraine has opened a criminal case with respect to the pollution, and experts from the State Environmental Inspectorate are involved in the investigation.

The Ukrainian authorities have established intergovernmental communication with Moldova and are conducting continuous laboratory monitoring of the water quality.

Quote from the ministry: "Ukraine and Moldova have also appealed to international partners for support in conducting additional research, in particular to identify polychlorinated biphenyls and compounds present in weapons, including missile fuel.

Both countries are coordinating actions and anticipate assistance from international laboratories for the relevant analyses."

Background:

• After a Russian attack on Ukraine, oil spills were detected in the Dniester River.
• Ukraine's Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture had previously reported that the pollution could be linked to a leak of missile fuel in the area of the Dniester Hydropower Plant on 7 March.
• The polluted water spread downstream, including into Moldova. Moldova's Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder said that some settlements risked being left without water.
• Later, Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced that due to the pollution of the Dniester, the country had asked the European Union for assistance, and the government introduced an environmental alert regime in the Dniester River basin.
• On 17 March, Oleg Ozerov, Russia's ambassador to Moldova, was handed a note of protest regarding the strike that led to the river's pollution. A bottle of water from the Dniester was brought to the meeting.

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