Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, concerns have been mounting in Moldova about the potential for similar aggression from Moscow. Moldova, like Ukraine, is a former Soviet republic that has aligned itself with the West and aims to join the European Union. The region of Transnistria, which declared independence from Moldova in the early 1990s, has become a focal point of tension.
Transnistria, with a population of 470,000, has a majority of Russian-speaking residents, with close ties to Russia. Recent events in Transnistria have raised alarms, with some drawing parallels to the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine. The region has experienced explosions, political assassinations, and alleged provocations, leading to fears of Russian interference.
