DISINFO: Moldova: NATO troops and the Ukrainian Armed Forces could seize Transnistria and Gagauzia
SUMMARY
Officially, Ukraine does not recognise Transnistria, considering it an instrument of Russian pressure on its southwest. Kyiv does not rule out a scenario in which NATO troops, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, could seize Transnistria and Gagauzia.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that the current Moldovan and Ukrainian leaderships are encouraging the outbreak of new armed conflicts in Transnistria.
The claims are unfounded. The Transnistrian region is internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Moldova, although the Moldovan authorities do not exercise effective control over it. This separatist region, located along Moldova’s border with Ukraine, broke away in 1992 and has since been supported by Russia. Moscow maintains a weapons depot there and illegally stations a contingent of troops. Neither Russia nor any other country in the world—except for the unrecognised entities of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh—has recognised Transnistria’s independence
Gagauzia is an autonomous region within the Republic of Moldova, located in the south-central part of the country.
A possible attack by Ukraine or NATO, as is claimed, on the two regions would mean declaring war on the Republic of Moldova. Both the authorities of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as representatives of NATO, with which Moldova has had a collaborative partnership since 1992, have always maintained that they support the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and will do everything possible to maintain peace in the region.
See similar cases: NATO threatens Transnistria, Sandu demanded violent military takeover of Transnistria, Chișinău's threats against Transnistria are taking on a military character.