Russia’s strikes near Moldova raise alarm over Putin’s plans for Europe’s eastern flank

Stanislav Secrieru, national security advisor to Moldovan President Maia Sandu, told Fox News that Russia’s recent strikes against Ukrainian-Moldovan border infrastructure pose a major threat to Ukraine’s economy and its access to European markets. Secrieru stated that since August, Russia has targeted these border areas to sever transit routes that became vital for Ukrainian grain exports following sustained attacks on Black Sea ports.

To keep exports moving, the Moldovan government has halved rail transit tariffs. Secrieru noted that Russia is also using airspace violations as a tool of intimidation to pressure Moldova into withdrawing its support for Ukraine. According to official data, Moldova recorded 17 airspace violations by Russia in August, the highest monthly figure since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggested that Moscow is employing hybrid warfare in Moldova to test how far it can push Europe without triggering a significant response. She warned that these actions could serve as a rehearsal for testing the resolve of NATO members in the Baltic region.

Baltic leaders have expressed growing concern regarding these developments. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that Russia’s threats and potential provocations against NATO must be taken seriously. Moldova, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, continues to face security challenges, including the presence of approximately 1,500 Russian troops in the breakaway region of Transnistria and ongoing efforts by Moscow to obstruct its path toward European integration.