While Moldova is closely monitoring the situation in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, the small country of 2.5 million inhabitants fears to be the next target of Russia in the event of a major offensive on southern Ukraine and mobilizes the military forces located in the self-proclaimed state of Transnistria. The fear of an extension of the conflict redoubled after a series of attacks in this pro-Russian territory on April 23 and 24, and at the crossing point between Varnita, on the Moldovan side, and Bender, on the Transnistrian side, the lines of cars lengthened .
With our special correspondent in Chisinau, Juliette Gheerbrant
At the wheel of an venerable car registered in Transnistria, Mikail waits to return home. The many vehicles are in step: “ This is for the safety of Transnistriaopines the 50-year-old. With the state of alert, they have tightened controls. On the Moldovan side, it’s as usual, but on our side, they are selective. »
A police officer who has been working at this crossing point since 2014 notices above all a change in the other direction: “ Before, Transnistria only controlled the entries now it also controls in the direction of the exits. And they added another fly post. »
Mikail isn’t worried though, he’s happy with his lot and refutes the idea of a Transnistria’s involvement in the conflict. As proof, it hosts refugees from Ukraine: “ The country welcomed them as its own, why do you want us to attack Odessa for example? Nope… »
Anastasia is one of these refugees and initially felt safe in Transnistria: In general, yes, but, given the information, we are thinking of going further. »
The late April attacks caused panic and fear in her. But for now, she is returning to Bender with her two little boys: ” I came to withdraw money, it is only in Moldova that the bank allows me to receive and withdraw money to live in Bender. »
And if the banks are always full, the Moldovan passport issuing office has also been in high demand for 10 days.
” Many have already left and others are just waiting to settle their papers. »
After last week’s explosions in Transnistria, Moldova has tightened its security measures along the area of the self-declared state and many residents are believed to have left. Others are preparing to do so, like Marina, a young resident of Tiraspol who came to Varnita to look for a Moldovan passport for her sister.
In reality, we do not feel safe, even if the information says that people come just for administrative procedures or to see relatives. I don’t believe it, I rather think that many have already left and that others are just waiting to settle their papers, and they leave! On Instagram, I follow several bloggers from Transnistria, and those who were able to do so went to Europe, for example to Italy. Because we really don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. I am in the starting blocks! I already have several options to leave and work for three or six months. I would feel better. My mother, I don’t know: she has a serious job here, she works for Sheriff. But it shouldn’t be talked about too much, and she can’t leave everything to suddenly leave. We are also trying to bring my sister and her son back from Russia, and it is very complicated. She no longer has a roof over her head, her husband is a contract soldier, he was drafted into the war.
Marina, a young resident of Transnistria, seeks to leave the region as “many have already left”