Ecofest without borders: Dniester Day united Ukraine and Moldova

Odesa region celebrated the Day of the Dniester and held an award ceremony for the winners of the International Basin Competition "Colors of the Dniester 2025". The event was attended by representatives of Ukraine and Moldova, international partners, educators, environmentalists, and contestants.

It was reported by Intent.

On May 27, Odesa hosted the celebration of the Dniester Day and the awarding ceremony of the winners of the Colors of the Dniester 2025 contest, which has been uniting children, youth, teachers, and communities around the topic of preserving the river and its ecosystems for 17 years.

During the online meeting, the participants heard welcoming speeches from representatives of the water sector in Ukraine and Moldova, international partners, and project co-organizers. Members of the competition committee and the winners of the creative competition also shared their thoughts.

As part of the event, the organizers announced the launch of a new competition, Colors of the Dniester - 2026, and held an open mic for participants and friends of the Dniester.

After the official part, the winners from Odesa personally received diplomas and valuable gifts. The next day, the organizing team traveled along the Dniester estuary, from Ovidiopol to Mayaki, to meet and present awards to the young participants.

One of the key locations was Ovidiopol, where an exhibition dedicated to the Dniester as a source of life, natural heritage, and a symbol of community unity was presented at the Community Center for Out-of-School Education.

The final symbolic accent was made in Mayaky, where representatives of the Maritime Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine joined the congratulations on the occasion of Dniester Day, emphasizing the importance of the river as a space of security, cooperation, and responsibility for the common future.

Also, the documentary The Danube Delta and the Healing Power of Nature by Emanuel Rondeau, created in cooperation with Rewilding Ukraine, was officially selected for the Luleå International Film Festival 2026. The second cinematographer of the film is Intent 's photographer Natalia Dovbysh.

Анна Бальчінос