Dniester River water levels drop significantly in Moldova and Ukraine

The Dniester River is experiencing a significant drop in water levels, causing ecological and logistical concerns in Moldova and the Chernivtsi region. In the Soroca district of Moldova, the water has receded so extensively in the village of Vasilcău that parts of the riverbed are exposed and can be crossed on foot.

In the Chernivtsi region, the receding waters of the Dniester reservoir have revealed prehistoric animal bones and remnants of ancient settlements.

Ilya Trombitsky, director of Eco-TIRAS, warned that ecological risks for the river and the population will intensify when the Ukrainian energy sector shifts from transit mode to water accumulation mode in its reservoirs. While authorities in Ukraine and Moldova have pledged to increase water discharge by 20%, water levels on the Moldovan side have not yet shown signs of rising despite recent rainfall.