On the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, the sounds of war rise in another country

While tensions have risen rapidly in recent days in Russia’s occupation of Ukraine launched on February 24 last year, tensions are also rising in Moldova, where pro-Russian separatists such as Ukraine are based.

In a statement yesterday, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine’s declaration that Moldova is preparing to invade the pro-Russian region of Transnistria, which unilaterally declared its independence, turned eyes to this region. In the statement, it was claimed that Ukraine was stockpiling weapons in the region to attack Russian forces through Transnistria.

A significant number of Ukrainian military units and military technical vehicles are deployed near the Ukraine-Transnistria border. In addition, there is an unprecedented increase in UAV flights of the Ukrainian army over Transnistria.

Mikhail Galuzin, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, also argued that Western countries ordered the pro-EU government in Moldova to cut off contact with Transnistria.

MOLDOVA: PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATION

Moldova’s response to these accusations was not long in coming. The Moldovan government rejected these claims by Russia and called for calm. In the statement, it was noted that the government is working with foreign partners on possible threats and will inform the public as a result of the studies carried out.

Government officials in Chisinau also described Russia’s claims as a “psychological operation.”

Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Moscow earlier this month of preparing a coup in the country and trying to drag Transnistria into war.

Western-ruled Moldova became an EU candidate on the same day as Ukraine last June. Moldova, with a population of 2.6 million, is among the poorest countries in Europe and has suffered financially from the war in Ukraine.

NOTABLE SIMILARITY WITH UKRAINE

In many ways, Transnistria resembles the region of eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists unilaterally declared independence.

After Moldova left the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian-backed Transnistria region unilaterally declared its independence. The conflicts that broke out between Moldova and Transnistria ended with a ceasefire in 1992.

Transnistria, which is not recognized by any UN member state, has its own parliament, army and police. In Transnistria, which has a population of about 500 thousand, most people have Russian and Moldovan passports. Most in the region want to be connected to Russia, but the country has no land connection to Russia.