An oil slick prevents access to drinking water in Moldova (symbolic image).Image: imago stock&people
Mar 19, 2026, 8:12 p.mMar 19, 2026, 8:12 p.m
The government of Moldova is struggling with the consequences of what it says is a drinking water disaster caused by Russia.
“Many residents of the Balti, Soroca, Singerei and Floresti districts have been without water from the public drinking water supply for days,” said Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, according to the state news agency Moldpress on Wednesday evening. Tens of thousands are affected.
Experts are working around the clock to restore supplies, he assured. The background is a large oil slick on the Dniester River, from which Moldova gets its drinking water.
“Russia bears full responsibility”
According to the Ministry of the Environment, a new activated carbon filter at the extraction station will improve water quality. Chisinau accuses Moscow of causing the current problems with attacks on a hydroelectric power plant in Ukraine near the border with Moldova. “Russia bears full responsibility,” President Maia Sandu wrote on X on Sunday. The Russian ambassador to the republic located between Romania and Ukraine was summoned because of the incident.
Moscow rejects the allegations as politically motivated. According to the Russian account, the contamination appeared several days before the attack. “No evidence of our country’s involvement in the environmental incident has been provided,” said a statement from the press service of the Russian Embassy. (sda/dpa)