Pollution from Russian strike on Ukraine hydro plant cuts water to Moldovan city

CHISINAU, March 16 - A Russian attack on a hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine triggered an oil spill and polluted water systems in neighbouring Moldova, with supplies cut completely in the country's second-largest city, officials said on Monday. Read more at straitstimes.com.

CHISINAU, March 16 - A Russian attack on a hydroelectric plant in southern Ukraine triggered an oil spill and polluted water systems in neighbouring Moldova, with supplies cut completely in the country's second-largest city, officials said on Monday.

President Maia Sandu, who wants to bring Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, into the European Union by the end of the decade, said she held Russia responsible for the pollution in the Dniestr River.

Moldova's Environment Ministry said the spill prompted the cutoff in Balti, a city of 90,000, and in three other towns and would remain in effect for at least a further 12 hours into Tuesday.

Schools were ordered closed and students told to work online.

Moldova declared a 15-day environmental alert on Sunday as the extent of the pollution became apparent.

"We declared environmental alert and are acting to protect our people," Sandu said in a statement on social media, referring to the March 7 attack on the Novodnistrovsk hydro station. "Russia bears full responsibility."