And there is a very real fear: will Russia extend its war to Moldovan territory?

The Republic of Moldova is one of the poorest nations in Europe, sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania. The small country, which is not a member of the EU or NATO, feels the danger of this war more than any other. Moldova is divided between pro-Europeans and pro-Russians. This division is fomenting uncertainty now that war is literally at the nation’s doorstep.

Like the Donbass in Ukraine, there is a de facto pro-Russian state on Moldovan territory with the ambition of one day being integrated into Russia itself: Transnistria. Transnistria is on the Ukrainian border and only 100 kilometers from Odessa, which further aggravates the situation.

Transnistria has more than 1,500 Russian soldiers stationed along its border. This would facilitate any potential Russian occupation of the Republic of Moldova.

The Republic of Moldova is one of the lesser known countries in Europe, but overnight it could well become a place that everyone is talking about.

Broadcast hours:

English DW

TUE 02.08.2022 – 01:15 UTC
TUE 02.08.2022 – 04:15 UTC
TUE 02.08.2022 – 18:15 UTC
WED 03.08.2022 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 06.08.2022 – 08:15 UTC
SUN 07.08.2022 – 12:15 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 I Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5.5 I Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC-7 | Edmonton UTC-6 | New York UTC -4

DW Deutsch+

WED 03.08.2022 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 06.08.2022 – 08:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC-7 | New York UTC-4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3