San Francisco Frontiers - 'Very worried': Tensions high on Transnistria border after attacks

A string of attacks this week in Transnistria -- a Moscow-backed separatist region of Moldova -- have sparked fears that Moldova could be dragged into conflict following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

No one has claimed the attacks, but tensions are mounting.

"I'm pregnant and very worried," said Victoria, a 36-year-old medical assistant, glancing at her belly.

She lives on the Moldovan side of the border, but crosses into Transnistria every day for work.

"I don't know what to do, I've never lived through a situation like this," she told AFP at the Varnita border post.

"If things change we will leave, obviously," she said as her 12-year-old daughter looked on from the back seat of her car.

Galina Turcanu, who owns a small family business that operates on both sides of the border, also says nerves are on edge.

"I'm concerned, we're all concerned," the 46-year-old Moldovan told AFP.

But she's staying put -- for now -- like many in the area.

"We have our parents and our whole family here," she said.

"We will stay and see which way the wind is blowing."

- Bad memories -

On Monday, Transnistria's interior ministry said government buildings in the capital Tiraspol were hit by what appeared to be a grenade-launcher attack.

In the following days, the ministry said a radio tower re-broadcasting Russian stations near the Ukrainian border was hit by explosions.

It also reported that shots were fired at a village housing a Russian arms depot after drones flew over from Ukraine.

Russia said it was "alarmed by the escalation of tensions in Transnistria", condemning the incidents as "acts of terrorism".

The self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria seceded from Moldova in 1992 after a brief war.

Around 1,500 Russian soldiers have been based there ever since.

Russia's invasion has brought unwelcome echoes of the fighting in the early 1990s which pushed many residents out of the region.

"That was difficult, we don't want that to happen again," says Turcanu.

"They aren't good memories."

- 'Concerning' -

Since the attacks, the wait to get into Transnistria has become much longer as security is ramped up, according to Moldovan policeman Vitalie, who gave only one name.

Transnistrian authorities have been conducting "more extensive checks since the explosions", he said, adding that car queues stretch to 300 metres (985 feet) at times.

But at the Moldovan checkpoint a few kilometres away, security forces are simply waving people through.

Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu has said security measures will be boosted, but in the streets of the capital Chisinau and the road towards Transnistria there is only a low-key police and military presence.

In the wake of this week's incident in Transnistria, Ukraine has accused Russia of trying to "destabilise" the breakaway region.

Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister, Oleg Serebrian, has played down the possibility of direct Russian interference.

He told France Info radio the cause of the clashes was "not clear", citing possible "internal clashes" between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian factions in Transnistria rather than "external influence".

But Serebrian admitted it was "concerning, given the regional situation and (Moldova's) economic weakness".

The country is already feeling the economic impact of the war, with supply chains disrupted.

Moldova is also "very dependent on electricity and gas networks that cross Transnistria", Serebrian said.

- 'All the passports' -

Moldova has also seen more than 400,000 Ukrainians cross its borders since the February 24 invasion, a significant number in a country of 2.6 million people, one of Europe's poorest and least populated.

While most of them have moved on elsewhere, over 91,000 have stayed, and Moldova is now bracing itself for a fresh wave of arrivals from Transnistria.

While many residents of the region have obtained Russian passports in recent years, local media have reported an uptick in people renewing their Moldovan documents as well over the past few weeks.

Turcanu is prepared.

"I've got all the passports in there", she says with a smile, pointing to a bag in her passenger seat.

J.Peterson--SFF