Bulgaria urges citizens to leave Moldova as Transnistria tensions rise
A look back at 28 April 2022, when Sofia issued an urgent travel warning after attacks in the breakaway region and a halt to Russian gas supplies.
What prompted Bulgaria to tell its citizens to leave a neighbouring country within days of a gas cut-off? On 28 April 2022, Bulgaria called on its nationals to leave Moldova immediately by any available means of transport, citing the complicating situation in the country. It also warned against any travel there.
The appeal followed attacks in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria. On 26 April 2022, Moldova's Supreme Security Council held an emergency meeting after the previous day's attacks. President Maia Sandu said the attacks were aimed at destabilising the situation in the region. She also said the military would improve its combat readiness and increase patrols on the border with Transnistria.
A parallel pressure on Bulgaria
The warning came as Bulgaria faced a separate challenge. On 26 April 2022, Gazprom announced it would stop delivering natural gas to Bulgaria, and to Poland via the Yamal–Europe pipeline. Both countries had rejected Russia's demand to pay for the fuel in roubles.
Poland did not expect disruption from the suspension. For Bulgaria, the position was different: the cut-off was described as a serious challenge to security of supply, because the country was almost completely dependent on Russian gas.
The events of 26 and 28 April 2022 thus unfolded within days of each other, with Bulgaria dealing with both a regional security alert in Moldova and an energy supply interruption at home.
