DISINFO: Chișinău's threats against Transnistria are taking on a military character
SUMMARY
Chișinău’s threats against Transnistria are acquiring a military character. There is information about the intention of the Moldovan authorities to develop a plan for a military operation in Transnistria. In general, no one can guarantee that Maia Sandu will not try to unleash a war in the region, especially if Western curators do not particularly object to this. And Kyiv is directly pushing Chișinău to do so. Therefore, the threat that the coming year may lead to a resumption of armed conflict on the Dniester is greater than ever.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, repeated regularly since the beginning of Russian full-scale aggression in Ukraine, accusing Moldova, as well as Ukraine of planning to attack Transnistria and open a second front against Russia.
No evidence is provided to back the claim. See a similar case claiming that Moldova is preparing for a military provocation against Russia with French encouragement.
This article is based on a statement from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. Allegations made by Russia’s intelligence services, as is this one, cannot be considered as such, given their proven history of making unsubstantiated claims based on faked or non-existent documents, for example about US biolaboratories in Ukraine or the presence of French combat troops on the Ukrainian frontlines and other false statements.
Transnistria, a separatist region supported by Russia, but officially part of the Republic of Moldova, located on the border with Ukraine near Odesa, was never the subject of discussions of a possible intervention by force. The frozen conflict in Transnistria has been ongoing since 1992, but the authorities of the Republic of Moldova have always supported a peaceful settlement.
These types of narratives resumed with a new intensity after Russia began, in February 2022, the full-scale aggression in Ukraine, but it was also used in Moldova's presidential election campaign and for the referendum on EU membership, both of which took place on October 20, 2024. Read our analysis of the attempts to create turmoil in Moldova by inflaming the Transnistria issue.
Since Moscow began its full-scale assault on Ukraine, Chișinău has been concerned that the Kremlin could use Transnistria to open a new front in southwestern Ukraine, in the direction of Odesa. Maia Sandu stated that the only option in relations with Transnistria is to maintain peace, and the resolution of the Transnistria conflict can only take place peacefully. The latest statement from Maia Sandu was made in March 2024: “I want to be very clear: the situation in Transnistria is stable, and this has been our priority since the beginning of the war.”
See here similar cases: the West is pushing Chișinău to attack Transnistria; Ukraine is preparing a provocation against Transnistria with the UK and US, Operation Kursk is being transferred to Moldova – Transnistria, EU - Moldova security and defence deal may indicate preparations for war against Russia; Anglo-Saxons behind Moldova's siege of Transnistria region.