A decades-long Russian-Ukrainian transit gas deal to Europe ended on Jan. 1. For now, the most acute effects are being felt in a region called Transnistria, on the eastern edge of Moldova.
Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference.
Moldova voted in favor of adding a path to the European Union to its constitution, and gave the incumbent president the most votes in elections Sunday, but neither result was the win leaders wanted.
Moldovans will vote for a new president and on a constitutional amendment regarding its path to the EU. Both votes will take place amid accusations of Russian meddling, vote buying and disinformation.
Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities were tricked into calling for the ouster of Moldova's president. It's the latest example of the Cameo app being used for an apparent political propaganda operation.
Moldova's president tapped her defense and security adviser, pro-Western economist Dorin Recean, to succeed the prime minister who resigned 18 months into a tenure tested by Russia's war in Ukraine.
Many slipped across the border as the war began, but lack passports or other official forms of ID. They struggle to prove their eligibility for humanitarian aid — and to cross into other countries.
Russian forces have been active in multiple former Soviet republics this year, a reflection of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's desire to maintain a 'sphere of influence' beyond Russia's borders.
Trans-Dniester doesn't usually get much attention. But European leaders are watching it closely because it hosts about 1,500 Russian troops and shares a 250-mile border with Ukraine.
One of Europe's poorest countries, Moldova has a separatist region that hosts 1,500 Russian troops. Since the Ukraine war, Moldova's applied to join the EU, even as it keeps a policy of neutrality.
