Top Putin general under pressure; Russian troops face ‘severe’ shortages; rubber batons and bullets found in torture sites | War latest

As Moldova suffers blackouts, heavy refugee flows and potential security threats from the war in neighbouring Ukraine, diplomats are drumming up money and other support for the country.

In a statement, the French foreign ministry said an international aid conference in Paris today was aimed at “concrete and immediate assistance” for the land-locked former Soviet republic.

The ministry said: “This international support is all the more important as Moldova is currently facing an unprecedented energy crisis which, with the approach of winter, poses a risk of a humanitarian crisis for the Moldovan population.”

Broad blackouts temporarily hit more than half a dozen Moldovan cities last week as the Russian military pounded infrastructure targets across Ukraine.

Nicu Popescu, Moldova’s foreign minister and minister for European integration, said: “Ukraine is facing this brutal Russian aggression but this aggression is posing a problem for everyone in Europe and that of course applies (to) Moldova.

“Moldova is severely affected by this war economically, when it comes to the security of energy supplies.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Moldova has been rocked by a series of worrisome events – with many fearing that the war could spill across its border.

In July and August, scores of false bomb threats were reported in the country and missile debris landed last month in a Moldovan border village.

In April, tensions in Transnistria soared after a series of explosions hit the breakaway region.