Moldova Summons Russian Envoy Over Dniester Oil Spill

Moldova summoned Russia's ambassador in Chisinau on Tuesday to protest a Russian strike on a Ukrainian hydropower plant that spilled petroleum products into the Dniester River, endangering the country's water supplies and prompting widespread disruptions.

The attack occurred on March 7 at the Novodnistrovsk hydroelectric station in Ukraine's Chernivtsi region, near the border with Moldova. Ukrainian officials reported the strike as part of a broader assault on energy infrastructure, with President Volodymyr Zelensky attributing it to Russian forces. The incident released an estimated 1.5 tons of petroleum products into the river, though specialists later suggested the volume could be several times greater. The Dniester, which flows through both nations, serves as a vital water source for about 80 percent of Moldova's population, particularly in northern areas.

By March 10, Ukraine detected contamination near the town of Lyadova, describing it as an act of environmental aggression. The pollution soon reached Moldova, leading authorities there to declare a 15-day environmental alert on Sunday, effective from March 16. This measure allows for temporary restrictions on water...