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Agence France-Presse

Russia claimed Ukraine was ramping up efforts to invade Transnistria, Moldova’s Moscow-backed separatist region, and pledged a “response”.
The Russian defence ministry’s statement was released on Thursday, the eve of the one-year anniversary of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.
Since the launch of the full-scale assault against Ukraine a year ago, the Kremlin has been accused of raising tensions in Transnistria to destabilise Ukraine and Moldova.
“The Kyiv regime has stepped up preparations for the invasion of the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic,” the statement said.
The defence ministry claimed the “invasion” would be launched “in response to an alleged offensive by Russian troops from the territory of Transnistria”.
The Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian troops were massing at the border with Moldova’s breakaway region.
Romania, Moldova both report strange objects in their skies
“The implementation of the planned provocation by the Ukrainian authorities poses a direct threat to the Russian peacekeeping contingent legally deployed in Transnistria,” Moscow said.
“Russia’s armed forces will respond to the impending provocation of the Ukrainian side in an adequate manner,” the statement added.
The Moldovan government issued a statement on the Telegram messaging app saying state authorities “do not confirm” the Russian defence ministry’s allegations.
“We call for calm and for information to be received (by the public) from official and credible sources of the Republic of Moldova,” it said. “Our institutions cooperate with foreign partners and in the case of threats to the country, the public will be promptly informed.”
Ukraine’s government has yet to respond to the accusations from the Russian defence ministry.
Moldova’s foreign minister told Reuters on Wednesday that the tiny former Soviet republic, which also borders Nato member Romania, was prepared for a “full spectrum of threats” from Russia.




Moldova, a poor country of 2.6 million people with a sizeable Russian minority, has taken a pro-Western turn in recent years, angering Moscow.
President Maia Sandu, who wants her country to join the European Union, accused Moscow this month of planning a coup to topple Moldova’s leadership. Moscow denied the allegation.
The mainly Russian-speaking region of Transnistria broke away from then-Soviet Moldova in 1990. After the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, pro-Russian separatists fought a war with Moldovan government forces.
Russian soldiers have been deployed there since.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week it was “obvious” that Ukraine would not be Russia’s last stop after invading Ukraine, and that the Kremlin was thinking about ways to “strangle” Moldova.
Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press


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Ukraine war

Russia claims Ukraine preparing to invade Moldovan region of Transnistria

Russia still has great influence in Moldova - a former member of the Soviet Union - especially in Transnistria. Photo: Shutterstock

Romania, Moldova both report strange objects in their skies

Chisinau International Airport in Moldova. Chisinau, The country closed its airspace for three hours on Tuesday to “ensure the safety of civil aviation”. Photo: Inquam Photos/Andrei Mardari via Reuters

Moldova leader unveils Russian ‘plot’ to topple government

President of Moldova Maia Sandu speaks during a press briefing at the presidential palace in Chisinau on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Radio centre antennas are seen on the ground following blasts in the village of Mayak in Moldova’s Russian-backed breakaway Transnistria region in April 2022. Photo: Transnistrian Interior Ministry via AFP

Moldova’s prime minister nominee Dorin Recean attends a press briefing at the presidential building in Chisinau, Moldova on February 10. He was named as candidate to the premiership hours after Natalia Gavrilita resigned from the post. Photo: EPA-EFE

Transnistria: is sliver of land between Moldova and Ukraine next flashpoint?

Transnistria sits on the Ukraine border and its neighbours have long worried that Russia would use it as a staging area for an invasion either east into Ukraine or west into Moldova. Photo: AFP

Explosions were reported Monday and Tuesday in the Russia-backed separatist region of Transnistria, which borders Ukraine. Photo: Transnistria Interior Ministry via Reuters 

A damaged building of the Ministry of State Security, in Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway region of Transnistria. Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Transnistria via AP

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Russia claimed that Ukrainian troops were massing at the border with Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region
Moldova, a former Soviet republic of about 2.6 million people, has sought closer ties with its Western partners


Russia claimed Ukraine was ramping up efforts to invade Transnistria, Moldova’s Moscow-backed separatist region, and pledged a ‘response’.


Ukraine

Russia

Moldova