Wizz Air is suspending some flights as Russian tensions escalate in countries neighbouring Ukraine

Wizz Air is suspending flights to Moldova for security reasons.

The Hungarian low-cost airline said on Monday it would pause flights to the Moldovan capital Chisinau from 14 March. This is due to concerns about the safety of the country's airspace.

Moldova's civil aviation authority has described the decision as sudden and regrettable.

Tensions between Russia and Moldova have grown in recent months as Russian missiles aimed at Ukraine have entered Moldovan airspace. 

There are also fears Russia could intensify attempts to destabilise the country, which is reeling from the war in neighbouring Ukraine. Authorities have blamed the Kremlin for fuelling anti-government protests, something it denies.

Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said on Wednesday that his country was prepared for a "full spectrum of threats".

Wizz Air states that the safety of its passengers and crew remain its "number one priority". It adds that "following the recent developments in Moldova and the elevated, but not imminent, risk in the country's airspace, Wizz Air has made the difficult but responsible decision to suspend all flights to Chisinau from the 14th of March."

Moldova's civil aviation authority says Moldovan authorities had been informed by email of Wizz Air's decision, adding the airline had sought approval for its summer flight schedule on 14 February, and received it on Monday.

Wizz Air said in a statement it would lay on extra flights from the Romanian city of Iasi - around 150 km from Chisinau - as replacements. These will include a new service to Berlin, and more flights to Barcelona, Milan Bergamo, Bologna, Rome Ciampino, Rome Fuimicino, Dortumand, Larnaca, London Luton and Treviso.

Flights to Budapest and Prague will not be replaced and