Moldova
Being one of Ukraine’s closest neighbors and also an ex-Soviet state, Moldova might very well be on Putin’s list for the next country to be taken over. This is very likely as the country has a separatist surgency in the east, in part of the disputed territory known as Trans-Dniester: there are currently about 1,500 troops stationed in that region.
As opposed to Ukraine, Moldova has a claim of military neutrality and had no intentions of joining NATO, but amidst the start of the war and seeing the way in which Russia invaded their neighbor, they have formally applied for EU membership. Moldova is one of Europe’s smallest and poorest countries, amassing 2.6 million citizens and now hosting tens of thousands of refugees that have fled the Ukrainian war.
The concern that Russia might turn its eyes towards Moldova next is not unfounded. Not only is the whole region dealing with a humanitarian crisis, due to the Ukrainian Russian war, which makes it vulnerable, but also because it would be easy for Putin to link the separatists in the east of Dniester River with Ukraine if they manage to take control over the strategic port in Odesa.
Despite Moldova’s president Maia Sandu declaring that there are no changes to the forces in Trans-Dniester, she highlighted the fact that the tension and fear remain: there is no way for the people there to feel safe with a war raging on their doorstep.
