Russia’s strikes near Moldova raise alarm over Putin’s plans for Europe’s eastern flank

As the war in neighboring Ukraine moves closer to its border, the former Soviet republic of Moldova, which just marked 35 years of independence, faces growing pressure from Russia.

In exclusive comments to Fox News Digital, national security advisor to Moldova’s President Maia Sandu, Stanislav Secrieru, said Russia’s recent strikes against Ukrainian-Moldovan border infrastructure pose a major threat to Ukraine’s economy and access to European markets.

Secrieru told Fox News Digital that, "In August, Russia began striking Ukraine’s border infrastructure along the Moldovan frontier.

With Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea ports under sustained attack, Moldova has become a transit route for that grain towards Romania’s ports — and the Moldovan government cut rail transit tariffs by half to keep it moving." US WARNS RUSSIAN-LINKED ACTORS SEEKING TO 'FOMENT MANUFACTURED INSURRECTION' IN EUROPEAN COUNTRY These routes, Secrieru said, are a lifeline for Ukraine’s exports and for its economy.

"Russia’s strikes are meant to sever them.

Russia has also stepped-up violations of Moldova’s airspace in August, to intimidate us into withdrawing our support.

Moldova stays the course.

We will continue to provide civilian support to Ukraine and to keep the corridors that sustain its economy open," Secrieru told Fox News Digital.

President Maia Sandu reported five Russian drones violated its airspace just hours before the country celebrated its independence, in what the president called an attempt at "intimidation." "We have repeatedly warned about the unacceptable risks posed by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Yet another Russian attack on Ukraine has once again resulted in violations of Moldova’s airspace," the foreign ministry posted on X.

Secrieru told Fox News Digital that Russia violated Moldovan airspace on 17 occasions in August, the highest number of violations in a month since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently visited his Moldovan counterpart in Chișinău, taking part in Independence Day celebrations and emphasizing the shared struggle of Ukrainians and Moldovans in the face of the threat posed by neighboring Russia.

"Russia is doing a lot to ruin our lives in Ukraine, to ruin your lives in Moldova, and to make it as difficult as possible for Romania.

This is the ‘Russian world.’ It spoils.