In a pharmacy in Zagreb, a poster reading “We don’t have iodine tablets”, March 3, 2022. DENIS LOVROVICH / AFP
Between rumors and real threats, the countries of Eastern and Northern Europe are gradually overcome by the fear that the conflict tearing Ukraine apart will affect their territory. Since the beginning of the Russian offensive on February 24, the brutality of the ground shelling, coupled with the massive influx of refugees, has raised the worst fears.
Live from March 12: the latest information about the war in Ukraine
Among the closest neighbors of Ukrainians, Moldovans live with fear in their stomachs. War is brewing so close to their border: Odessa is 180 kilometers from the capital, Chisinau. The slightest rumor launched on social networks, and there are many of them, causes alarm among the population. “On Wednesday there were rumors that Russia had cut off the gas supply, on Thursday gasoline would be introduced on cards, and on Friday there would be no more salt. This creates queues at gas stations and some shortages in stores,” says the French expat. Hospitals are stocking up on generators for fear of blackouts.
Read also Article reserved for our subscribers With Ukrainian refugees, Europeans regain hospitality
Gas stations elsewhere would also be on the brink of collapse. On March 2 in Bulgaria, on March 3 in Serbia, on March 8 in Slovenia and on March 10 in Hungary, there was an inexplicable influx of motorists at gas stations at gas stations. In Romania, queues for gas stations stretch for miles. “I haven’t seen this since the 1980s, during the communist dictatorship, when we had all the deficit,” says Ion Gianu, a Bucharest resident who queued for hours to fill his tank. Governments in the region have had to reassure the population, and some have even announced they are investigating the spread of these rumors on social media. However, in Hungary gas stations have introduced restrictions on consumption.
Not in stock
But the fear of expanding conflict is also very real. Bulgaria urgently decided to conduct a census of its bomb shelters. Of the 704 existing across the country, 101 have been declared completely unusable, but the head of the Civil Protection wanted to reassure, saying that 900,000 people could take refuge in the Sofia metro in case of conflict.
At her pharmacy in Muranovo, Poland, Anita Kowalewska considers the worst and does not rule out a nuclear attack. Liquid iodine preparations that protect the thyroid gland from radiation exposure are not available in the country, but the pharmacist proudly waves a bottle of concentrated solution: “This should be enough for a hundred bottles. Fear of a nuclear attack or accident has also devastated Romanian pharmacies from iodine. “Do not use iodine as a preventive measure against radioactive contamination,” Romanian Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said March 8. This is a dangerous product that can affect the thyroid gland. »
You have 50.6% of this article left to read. Further only for subscribers.