The developing situation in neighbouring Ukraine has caused concern in Moldova about a possible invasion of the country by Russian troops.
Citizens, according to a Washington Post report, are exchanging messages of concern on social media as Russian troops approach even Odessa. Some Moldovans are already reportedly hoarding foreign currency and making plans to flee. Many, seeing how sharply people's lives have collapsed in Ukraine, say they fear the possibility of a similar disaster in their country if the Russians invade.
"You never know what's in the mind of a madman," says 32-year-old Evgeny Lyutov, who lives in Moldova's capital, Chisinau.
Ten days into a conflict that is changing alliances and upending the world order, the repercussions are hitting countries like Moldova and post-Soviet states that have been balancing for years between East and West and now realize that the middle ground is probably untenable.
In Moldova, it seems the war has accelerated the drive for full alignment with Europe. On Thursday, the country signed an application to join the European Union in what its prime minister described as a vote for "freedom." Moldova also said it was ready to host more than 250,000 Ukrainian refugees who have crossed its borders, the prime minister noted.
Vulnerable to the Kremlin
But while Moldova has never felt closer to Europe, it has also never felt more vulnerable to the Kremlin. Russian troops are pushing toward cities and ports along Ukraine's southern coast, including Odessa, 30 miles from Moldova's border.
[/B][/B][/B]Several days ago, addressing his security council, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko presented a battle map depicting an arrow pointing toward Moldova.
Security analysts say Russia's sluggish progress so far in Ukraine could reduce the chances that Putin will seek to expand the scale of the invasion. Mihai Popsoi, deputy speaker of Moldova's parliament, said in an interview that intelligence officials see no signs of an imminent threat - "although [LUKASHENKO'S] map may make you doubt my words," he said.
Moldova, which is not a NATO member, has already closed its airspace and declared a state of emergency.
There is another reason why Moldova is exposed: It already has about 1,500 Russian soldiers within its internationally recognized borders. These troops - which Russia describes as peacekeepers - are based in an area known as Transnistria, a breakaway pro-Russian enclave that functions in practice as an independent state, where Moldovan authorities admit they have no control.
In this context, it is an area where the Russians could use it to advance their interests, as in other similar cases.
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