The pro-Russian breakaway state of Transnistria declared independence from the Moldavian Soviet Republic in 1990. Since 1992, the area has been controlled by Russia – which provides Transnistria with both economic and military aid.
But now the concern is growing that the Russian president is planning an annexation, according to the opposition. It reports Radio Moldova.
Putin gives a speech
On February 28, a meeting will be held in Congress. Opposition politician Gennady Chorba believes that Transnistria will issue an official request for annexation.
The following day, Vladimir Putin gives a speech where he can announce a possible decision. Something Gennady Chorba urges the decision-makers to stop.
– It would give Putin a legal pretext to attack Moldova, including Transnistria, under any circumstances, he says according to the radio channel.
“Kyiv will react”
The non-profit research group Institute for the study of war, ISW, assesses the probability as small and the Moldovan government does not consider that the threat to Moldova has increased.
At the same time, concerns from the Ukrainian side have grown. On February 15, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that he was “concerned” about the Russian citizens in Transnistria. The statement was described as an attempt to destabilize the situation in Moldova. For Ukraine, a decision on annexation could have major consequences in the war against Russia.
Now they are preparing for attacks from the west.
“Kiev will react decisively to all provocations aimed at drawing the Transnistrian region into Russia’s war against Ukraine and destabilizing the situation in Moldova in general,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.