In light of the oil spills in the Dniester River caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu has requested the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, TRIBUNA reports.

“Through this mechanism, we are requesting support from our European partners for the rapid deployment of specialist teams and the necessary equipment to manage the situation on the ground. This includes equipment for capturing, containing, and collecting petroleum impurities from the water, as well as mobile stations for water quality testing,” the Government stated.

This support is needed to strengthen the intervention capacities of the responsible institutions — the Ministry of Environment, through the Environment Agency and Apele Moldovei, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and the National Agency for Public Health — all of which are involved in monitoring and managing the situation. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence has been asked to provide military personnel, equipment, and technical units.