What was happening around Ukraine on 1 May 2022?

What was the picture around Ukraine on 1 May 2022? In the days leading up to that date, reports pointed to pressure in the east of Ukraine, alarm in neighbouring Moldova and a new energy dispute between Moscow and two EU members.

Fighting in the east

On 29 April 2022, a Russian air strike destroyed a large railway bridge linking Sloviansk and Lyman across the Siverskyi Donets river, according to Sentinel-2 satellite images. The strike followed reports from US Ministry of Defence representatives, as stated at the time, that Russian forces appeared to be advancing towards Sloviansk and Baranivka.

Alarm in Moldova

The neighbouring country of Moldova also saw tension. On 25 April 2022, the office of the Transnistrian Ministry of State Security in Tiraspol was attacked with grenade launchers. The building was reported damaged, but no casualties were reported.

On 26 April 2022, Moldova's Supreme Security Council held an emergency meeting. President Maia Sandu said the attacks aimed to destabilise the situation in the region. She added that the military would improve its combat readiness and increase patrols on the border with Transnistria.

On 28 April 2022, Bulgaria urged its citizens to leave Moldova immediately by any available means of transport, citing the complicating situation in the country. It also warned against any travel there.

Gas cut-offs

On 26 April 2022, Gazprom announced it would stop delivering natural gas to Poland via the Yamal–Europe pipeline, and to Bulgaria. Both countries had rejected Russia's demand to pay for gas in roubles. Poland did not expect disruption from the suspension. For Bulgaria, which is almost completely dependent on Russian gas, the halt posed a serious challenge to security of supply.

Taken together, these developments showed how events tied to the war reached beyond Ukraine's front lines in the final days of April 2022, touching transport links in the Donbas, security in Moldova and energy supplies in the EU.