Vague attacks in Transnistria and intelligence on Russia’s intentions scare Moldovans. Due to the threat of war, many Moldovans are preparing to flee abroad.
CHIȘINĂU Pharmacist Natalia Mițu has climbed to the top of the cemetery in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The sea is covered by a sea of Orthodox crosses and is surrounded by lush views of the rolling suburbs of Chisinau.
Mițu uprootes the weeds of his mother, who died a year ago Elenan from the grave. He cleanses the cross of winter dust, turns the soil fluffy, and plantes ornaments and tulips for decoration.
On Monday, a week after Orthodox Easter, the so-called Parents’ Day was celebrated in Moldova to commemorate the dead loved ones.
This year, the day was celebrated in an exceptionally serious atmosphere. While Moldovans remember the deceased, they prepare for a bleak-looking future.
The black shadow is created by Russia, whose war of aggression in Ukraine reaches frighteningly close to Moldova.
– We used to dream and plan the course of life, but now we only live in this moment, Mițu says with concern.
Next to his relatives point out that the culprit for the insecurity of Moldovans is Russia.
Moldova is the poorest in Europe land and has less than three million inhabitants.
It is also a divided land. In 1992, there was a war between newly independent Moldova and Transnistria.
The Russian armed forces supported Transnistria. Since then, Russian forces have occupied and controlled the so-called Transnistrian separatist region.
There are currently an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 Russian soldiers. Moldova has demanded the withdrawal of the occupying soldiers, but Russia considers them peacekeepers.
Transnistria is a long but narrow strip of land mainly on the eastern bank of the Dniester River. It has declared independence, but not even Russia has recognized its independence – at least not yet.
Transnistria, with a population of well under half a million, has been said to be a foreign museum of the Soviet Union because it is poor and corrupt, and symbols of the Soviet era are still seen there. The Soviet remnant in the Red Flag of Transnistria also has a sickle and a hammer.
Transnistria is home to almost as many Russians, Moldovans and Ukrainians. Many have more than one passport for security. Politically, Russian-speakers are on the neck, and Transnistria is completely dependent on Russian financial support.
Last week, Transnistrian authorities reported a series of armed attacks, the cause and purpose of which remained unclear. Transnistria blamed Ukraine for them, while Ukraine saw the attacks as a staging by Russia.
Memorial Day is celebrated in the cemetery traditional earnestly. Mițu and his family go around the tomb three times. The scent of incense fills the air until a gust of wind dissipates it into the sky.
The tradition is to give a gift dummy to someone else – now it is given to ‘s filming group. The dumpling has a whisk, sweets, an apple, an Easter-decorated egg and a small cake.
Eventually, the ceremonies will also be attended by an orthodox priest, who walks from tomb to tomb and recites, or recites, prayers for dead souls.
Although the actual holiday was Monday, Mițu was on duty as early as Saturday to avoid the worst rush hour.
Now he also thinks it is wise to prepare for the future. You should do what you can right away.
– We live today and tomorrow, but no one knows about the next few days, Mițu says.
Mițu’s family has collected a little savings in case of a bad day. The savings will be used if the family were forced to flee because of the war.
Admittedly, they do not know where to escape, as they have no relatives on the Romanian side, as do many other Moldovans.
The Mițu family has put together their most important documentaries for a sudden departure. Some others have even packed their suitcases because Moldovans do not trust their country’s ability to survive the crisis.
However, a starting decision will only be made if the war really reaches Moldova.
– It’s stable here, our children are here, our house is here, my father is here and my mother’s grave is here, so we don’t want to leave. If we wanted to leave, we would have already left, Mițu says.
According to Mițu, any country, even Finland, could now be in Ukraine’s position. He recalls thinking of all previous refugee crises such as Afghanistan and Syria as distant issues that do not concern him.
The grave is also cleaned of the deceased Elena’s best friend Maria Rabiia retired kindergarten teacher.
He is very concerned about the situation in Moldova.
– We are steps away from the war, Rabii believes.
However, he believes that war or peace are not Moldova’s choices. Whatever Moldova did, it is at Russia’s mercy.
And as has been seen in Ukraine, Russia can do almost anything. Rabbi thinks all Russian actions are repulsive.
– We don’t want a war for any reason. Because children suffer. At least the adults have already had time to live, but what about the children, Rabii says.
Moldova’s own armed forces are very weak and outdated. Moldova is not a member of the EU or NATO, so it cannot automatically expect to receive military assistance from others.
Moldova is completely dependent on Russia for energy. On the Transnistrian side, there is a power plant in the city of Dnestrovsc, which produces four-fifths of the electricity used by Moldova.
It runs on Russian natural gas, which Russia supplies to Transnistria cheaply. However, Moldova pays the market price for energy, so this year the war has been on everyone’s wallet.
At the same time, energy gives Russia an easy means of pressure. If the transmission of electricity from the power plant to the actual Moldovan side were cut off, the lights in Moldova would go out.
Not everyone in Moldova is quite as concerned as the Mițu family at the cemetery.
Resident in a block of flats in the center of Chisinau Dmitry Orlovsky is an entrepreneur who imports Chinese electric scooters.
The threshold for him to evacuate is high – and he doesn’t even consider it necessary.
– I haven’t prepared anything on purpose, because I don’t want to believe that anything bad could happen. I always try to be an optimist, Orlovsky says.
To the extent he admits that he gave in to pessimism, however, that he has stored more well-preserved food than usual.
Orlovsky’s cohabitant Jana Topovalla there is already experience of an evacuation trip. He lived in Odessa at the start of the war and fled to the Moldovan side immediately in the first hours of the Russian invasion.
– Now I feel safe, but not 100%, because there is a fear that something can start here, Topova says.
Instead of getting ready for war, a couple in their thirties focuses on something else entirely: After an interview with , they make salad and pancakes for dinner.
And while watching TV, they popped strawberries cooked in the heat of the greenhouse. Moldova is already living in the summer.