The Ministry of Defense of Russia announced for the second time in a day that Ukraine is preparing for a “provocation with an invasion of Transnistria.” Moscow claims that this is “a response to an alleged attack by Russian troops on the territory of Transnistria” and threatens to respond “appropriately” because it is a direct threat from the Russian military contingent in the separatist region.

On Thursday evening, Russia claims that Ukraine has “stepped up preparations” for an invasion of Transnistria and has amassed troops and military equipment on the border with the separatist region of the Republic of Moldova, Russian news agency TASS reported.

The Ministry of Defense of Russia claims that the “Kyiv regime” wants to invade Transnistria “in response to Russia’s alleged military offensive” in the region.

It also states that the Armed Forces of Ukraine “deployed artillery at firing positions” and states “an unprecedented increase in drone flights of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the territory of Transnistria.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the “provocation planned by Kyiv” is a direct threat to the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in Transnistria, and “the Russian armed forces will give an adequate response to the provocation prepared by the Ukrainian side.”

On Thursday morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Ukraine plans to invade Transnistria “in the near future” under a false flag, blaming the Russian military for this.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that “they are closely monitoring the situation on the border of Ukraine with Transnistria and are ready to respond to any change in the situation.”

Chisinau rejected Russia’s accusations

On Thursday, the Republic of Moldova rejected the accusations of the Russian Ministry of Defense. “We call for calm and invite the public to follow official and reliable sources of the Republic of Moldova,” the Chisinau government said in a statement.

The statement of the Russian Ministry of Defense about possible provocations by Ukraine in Transnistria is an element of a psychological operation, and not true intentions, commented on Thursday the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense from Chisinau Valeriu Mia. However, the official drew attention to the fact that the authorities of the Moldovan state should carefully monitor the situation and be vigilant.

“The population must realize that not only a classic war is taking place in Ukraine. One of the elements of this war is psychological operations. State institutions must be vigilant to follow this topic,” said Valeriu Mia, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, on Radio Moldova, as quoted by news.ro.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that, although the Russian Federation is used to making such statements quite often, this is the first time such a warning has come from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

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. (Photo source Dreamstime)

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