The Kremlin is concerned about the situation in Transnistria

Moscow is closely following the situation in Transnistria and is concerned about it because of attempts from outside to worsen it, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Naturally, the situation in Transnistria is the object of our closest attention and cause for our concern. The situation is turbulent, it is provoked from outside,” he said.

When asked if the Kremlin is afraid of possible attempts by Western countries to undermine the situation in the region, Peskov replied that Russia’s opponents in Kyiv and European countries are “capable of various provocations.”

“We know this well and are aware of it,” he added.

On February 23, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on its Telegram channel that the Ukrainian authorities were preparing to carry out an armed provocation against Transnistria. According to the ministry, as a pretext for the invasion, Ukraine plans to stage a “supposedly Russian offensive” from the territory of Transnistria. For the “staged invasion”, Kyiv saboteurs will change into the uniform of the Russian military, the department added. The Ministry of Defense stressed that they are monitoring the situation on the border of Ukraine with the republic and are ready to respond to “any changes in the situation.”

On February 24, Alexei Arestovich, a former adviser to Vladimir Zelensky’s office, said that Ukraine was ready to seize Transnistria in three days if the Moldovan authorities made such a request. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in turn indicated on Moscow’s readiness to adequately respond to provocations by Ukraine in Transnistria.

On February 26, a member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporizhzhya region Vladimir Rogov informed on the movement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of its troops to the border of Transnistria.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in mid-February that the country’s departments had confirmed the information provided by Ukraine about Russia’s plans to “destabilize the situation in the country.” In response to Sandu’s words, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on February 14 in which emphasizedthat Russia has no plans “to destabilize the situation in Moldova.”