Moldova says it fears a Russian invasion as more neighbors ring alarm over Ukraine war

• Moldova's prime minister said her country is afraid Russia could invade it next.
• She told CNN that the concern is a hypothetical one for now, but it was still a "risk."

Moldova, a European country that borders Ukraine, said it fears an invasion by Russia.

"We are worried, of course," Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita told CNN in an interview aired Sunday when asked if she was worried that Russia would move into her country next.

"This is a risk, it's a hypothetical scenario for now, but if the military actions move further into the southwestern part of Ukraine and toward Odesa, then of course, we are very worried."

She highlighted the risk of Russian troops in Transnistria, a Russia-backed region that borders Ukraine and broke away from Moldova in 1992.

A senior Russian commander said in April that Russia wanted to take all of southern Ukraine, which would give it a land connection to Transnistria. Russia has since retreated from much of Ukraine, and is focusing on taking the east.

There have also been increased reports of explosions in Transnistria since Russia's invasion began.

Gavrilita said Moldova was "doing everything possible to maintain peace and stability and to ensure the fighting does not escalate" from the region.

Moldova was once part of the Soviet Union, and Gavrilita told CNN that its people backed the country to be a democracy aligned with Western values. The country also recently reached EU candidacy status.

Russia's neighbors are also worried the country may attack, and have stepped up their defenses after Russia's invasion.

Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO, while Latvia's defense minister is looking to bring back the country's military draft.