Russia will try to open a new front against Ukraine from Moldova, according to Ukrainian military sources quoted by the British newspaper The Times.
According to a source in the publication, there are “a number of indicators” pointing to upcoming Russian attack on Moldova in the near future, with only 3,250 troops in its army. Its successful conquest will lead to the entry of Russian troops into the Black Sea port of Odessa, in Ukraine, from the west.
“We believe that the Kremlin has already decided to attack Moldova. The fate of Moldova is very decisive. If the Russians start taking control there, we (Ukraine) will be an easier target in military terms and a threat to Ukraine. it will be existential, “the source said.
Tensions are already rising in Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova, after a series of mysterious explosions, for which “unknown terrorists” are accused. Transnistria borders southwestern Ukraine and is controlled by pro-Russian officials. The region was seceded in 1990, and after the Soviet Union disintegrated and Moldova declared independence and took a pro-Western stance, a military conflict erupted that is currently frozen.
Western analysts believe the Kremlin’s goal may be to create land bridge from Russia along the coast of Ukraine to Transnistria, cutting off Ukraine from access to the Black Sea.
Moldova does not expect the country to be involved in a war
They call for the advice of the country’s authorities to be followed
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The military source believes that Russia could go even further, trying to exploit the frustration of the cost of living in Moldova and escalate existing tensions with the ultimate goal of taking over the country.. Allegations cannot be verified independently.
Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries, is battling a large influx of refugees and the economic consequences of the war, which have halted nearly 15 per cent of its exports. It is not a member of NATO but borders Romania, which it is.
The source said that Ukrainian intelligence was pointing to activities at the main airport in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, suggesting that the Russians were preparing for a conflict with Ilyushin-76 transport planes and possibly helicopters to be flown. “This means that they are preparing for an airborne operation and there is a high probability that the airborne troops will be delivered from Crimea..”
It is estimated that about 1,500 Russian soldiers are already in Transnistria (they are there under the ceasefire agreement and are practically Transnistrian citizens with Russian passports), according to Western officials. All troops sent to the airport will have to cross Ukrainian airspace, which puts them at risk from the country’s air defense systems.
The Russians are expected to create a “pretext” for intervention in Moldovato coincide with the Victory Day parade on May 9. Riots in the capital, Chisinau, could be staged at the same time as a military operation in Transnistria, the source said. “It is now very easy to create a pretext in Moldova.”
A report by Jack Watling and Nick Reynolds of the Royal United Services Institute suggests that the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s main spy agency, is discussing attempts to destabilize Moldova to counter growing pro-European sentiment in the country. This will show the West that support for Ukraine risks wider consequences, including in the Balkans.they write.
On April 7 the Moldovan government has banned the display of Russian military symbolsa move interpreted in Moscow as a sign that it seeks to counter Russian influence in the country.
The report says Ukrainian intelligence has learned that Major General Dmitry Milutin of the Fifth FSB Service is discussing organizing a protest movement in Moldova that will “deliberately use massively banned symbols, encouraging authorities to fine large numbers of poor protesters and created a basis for claims that the government suppresses political expression and freedom of speech. “
Along with Transnistrian brigades, Russian forces in the breakaway region “pose a threat to the Moldovan government in the event of political destabilization of the country,” the report said. However, it is added that without a land bridge to Moldova through Ukraine, the Russians will find it difficult to reinforce these units.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that we do not travel to Moldova
Bulgarians there are urged to leave the country
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In a speech on April 22, Major General Rustam Minekayev, deputy commander of Russia’s Central Military District, said control over southern Ukraine will provide “access to Transnistria”where, according to him, “there are facts of oppression of the Russian-speaking population.”
According to the Moscow Times, Viktor Vodolatsky, deputy chairman of the State Duma committee, said Russian authorities could recognize Transnistria’s independence in the near future.
A few days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Putin announced that he recognized the two breakaway republics in Donbass as independent; paving the way for Moscow to send troops to separatist areas on the grounds that it is intervening as an ally to protect them against Ukraine.
“If Russia recognizes the independence of Transnistria, it would directly threaten the territorial integrity of Moldova. This will be the scenario of Donbass. This means that they will provide military assistance, which means that they can recognize it as part of Russia and so on.” , said the Ukrainian source.
The region has reported a series of explosions in recent days, which it called “terrorist attacks”, prompting Kyiv to accuse Moscow of seeking to expand the war further in Europe.
