Moldovans cut off from water after Russian strikeDNIESTER DISASTER: A ‘wave of pollution with oil products’ has forced authorities to cut the water supply to several areas, including Moldova’s second-largest cityAP, BALTI, MoldovaTens of thousands of Moldovans have been left without water after a Russian strike on a hydroelectric plant in Ukraine resulted in oil polluting a major river that flows through both countries. Men fill a bucket with water from a well in Balti, Moldova, on Tuesday. While oil pollutants have been confirmed in the river following the strike, the exact source of the pollutant is not yet clear. The situation has forced the authorities to cut the water supply to several districts, including Moldova’s second-largest city of Balti, which has a population of about 90,000 people. “It’s a complicated situation, I have to come every day to get water,” said Irina Mutluc, a teacher living in Balti.

Source: Taipei Times March 19, 2026 17:12 UTC