The Association of Environmental and Ecotourism Journalists of Moldova (AJMTEM) awarded first place to the cross-border investigation into the impact of the Transnistrian thermal power plant on Ukraine’s environment, “Hostages of the Moldavskaya GRES.” The investigation was conducted by journalists from Green Leaf NGO together with their Moldovan colleagues from TV8 with support from Journalismfund Europe.

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu was among those who attended the award ceremony.

From the award ceremony. Photo from the internet

The investigation examines the impact of the Moldavskaya GRES power plant operating in the territory of the unrecognized Transnistrian region. It is the largest power plant in Europe.

At the same time, Ukrainian villages suffer from the operation of the power plant in the so-called PMR: Lymanske and Kuchurhan face the threat of flooding, while Hradenytsi suffers from untreated toxic waste. The area of contaminated land on Ukrainian territory is about 130 hectares.

In addition, Ukrainian communities are forced to spend budget funds continuously, in effect supporting the technical operating cycle of the Moldavskaya GRES.

At the same time, Moldova is dependent on the operation of the thermal power plant in Transnistria for its energy supply. De facto, this means dependence on the separatist regime in the so-called PMR, backed by Kremlin leaders. The Moldavskaya GRES is owned by a Russian company headed by sanctioned businessman Boris Kovalchuk, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For a time, the Moldavskaya GRES even exported electricity to the EU, bypassing sanctions through the registration of a company in Chișinău.

Thus, while the Moldavskaya GRES earns money and fills the budget of unrecognized Transnistria, Ukraine is left with environmental problems, and Moldova remains critically dependent on the separatists and their Kremlin patrons.