Moldovan officials warn: We Can Attack From Russia

America's Voice correspondent Anna Costutschenko visited the region. For security reasons, some of the persons interviewed did not reveal their identity.

Nina was born and grew up in the Ukrainian village of Velika Mykhailivka in the Ocean region, located on the border of Transnistria, a region of Moldova controlled by Russian-backed separatists.

Most of her life, she worked in a local factory. Today, she owns a grocery store.

Ukraine does not express concern after Moldovan intelligence warnings on the possibility of a Russian offensive in southern Ukraine.

It's just words. We're fine here, everything's cool. Our boys are protecting us”, she says about the Voice of America.

But others express concern.

We're very close to the border. We're always under pressure, as we try to help our soldiers, at all times”, says Liudmila, another resident.

We're approaching the border with Moldova. Those houses you are seeing are in the territory of the Transnistria region”, says Oleksandr Kovalchuk, who was born and grew in this region of Ukraine.

My “parents live about 26 kilometers from the border with Moldova”, he says.

Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

A year later, Russia-backed separatists launched a civil war in Transnistria and since then control the region, which is internationally recognised as part of Moldova.

There are still Russian troops. Their presence is the greatest concern of Ukrainians living near the border.

Mr. Kovalchuk says that from the beginning of the war in Ukraine, many crossed the Ukrainian border with Moldova near Tiraspol, capital of Transnistria.

“According to unofficial information, in the last six months many young people and middle-aged people came to Transnistria, justifying visiting relatives or having jobs. But no one has left yet. We think it's Russian officers waiting for something. According to our sources, up until now about a thousand men --” -- says Mr. Kovalchuk, a member of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Moldovan intelligence officials warned this week of the possibility of a Russian offensive in southern Ukraine early next year, with a view to connecting Ukraine and Transistry.

But Mr. Kovalchuk says this is not likely to happen.

Even if it happens, Ukraine will win. We have more people. We're in the lead”, he says.

Meanwhile, residents of the village of Velika Mykhailivka are preparing for even lower temperatures during the winter.

Volunteer groups set up heating centres for residents after Russian attacks triggered power cuts across the country.

We know this will be a difficult winter. Our country is all we have and we will fight for it to the end. We are owners of our land”, says Anatoly Ivanov, deputy head of the village of Velika Mykhailivka.

Life continues in the village but carefully added, overseeing every movement near the western border. / VOA