A day before the first anniversary of the war, the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday accused Ukraine of plans to invade the separatist region of Transnistria after a false flag operation, the RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing Reuters.

The Ministry of Defense of Russia said that Ukraine plans to stage an attack allegedly by Russian troops in Transnistria as a pretext for an invasion, RIA reports.

And the TASS news agency writes that Ukraine wants to invade Transnistria “in the near future”, in which the fighters of the “Azov” regiment will also participate.

“According to available information, the Kyiv regime is preparing an armed provocation against PMR in the near future, which will be carried out by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including with the involvement of the nationalist formation “Azov” (recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia and banned – TASS comment),” they said in the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that Ukrainians want to blame Moscow for the conflict, and “Ukrainian saboteurs involved in the staged invasion will be disguised in the military uniform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”

The West instructed the government in Chisinau to stop any interaction with the Moscow-backed administration of Transnistria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mykhailo Galuzin said, TASS reports.

Earlier this month, Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Moscow of plotting a coup to topple the government and drag Transnistria into war.

This predominantly Russian-speaking region seceded from then-Soviet Moldova in 1990. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, pro-Russian separatists waged a bloody war with Moldovan government forces.

The Republic of Moldova is ready for “the entire spectrum of threats”

A day before Russia’s statements, Foreign Minister Niku Popescu said in an interview with Reuters that the Republic of Moldova is ready for “the entire spectrum of threats” in the context of fears that Russia may increase its efforts to destabilize the already small country. war in neighboring Ukraine, writes Agerpres.

Tensions between Russia and the Republic of Moldova have risen in recent months after Russian missiles aimed at Ukraine entered Moldovan airspace and authorities in Chisinau accused the Kremlin of stoking anti-government protests, a fact it denies.

In a telephone interview with Reuters, Niku Popescu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, said that Chisinau is ready, in particular thanks to the support of international partners.

“Our institutions have planned a response to the entire range of threats. Of course, we have limited funds, but we are not alone,” he said.

However, Niku Popescu claims that Ukraine’s success in repelling Russian troops has reduced this possibility. “We do not believe that Moldova can threaten military force while Ukraine resists and keeps the front line away from us,” he said.

Last year, Russia denied it wanted to intervene in the Republic of Moldova after authorities in Transnistria said they had been targeted in a series of attacks. (Photo source Dreamstime)