How the Russian campaign is wearing down the EU accession candidate Moldova

Istanbul, Riga When a rocket hit Poland near the Ukrainian border on Tuesday, there were no televisions and radios in Moldova. A power outage hits half of the country a little later that day – including the capital Chisinau.

The blackout was triggered by heavy airstrikes by the Russian army on neighboring Ukraine. Many of the 2.6 million inhabitants only find out later about the scenario that many also fear for their own country.

At the end of October, parts of a Russian missile shot down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses landed in the village of Naslavcea on the Ukrainian border. There were no injuries, but three missiles had previously entered Moldovan airspace.

The country’s foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, said in an interview with the Handelsblatt: “Fortunately, there was only one property damage.” exposed to risk”.