Russia said it wanted to “avoid” dragging Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria into the Ukraine war.
Concerns that the unrecognized republic was a potential flashpoint in the war followed comments by Russian commander Rustam Minnekayev that Moscow wanted to create a passage to the unrecognized republic in a plan for a land corridor to Crimea.
Adding to the speculation were two unexplained explosions within two days. Two antennas broadcasting Russian radio were blown up 30 miles north of the capital Tiraspol on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, explosions hit a building housing the security services of the unrecognized republic on the border with western Ukraine on Monday. Although there is no information about a link between the blasts, they prompted Moldovan President Maia Sandu to convene a meeting of the Supreme Security Council of Moldova.
Asked about the possibility of Transnistria being drawn into the Ukraine war, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said: “We would like to avoid such a scenario,” state news agency RIA reported. “Let’s wait for the investigation to be completed.”
This is an evolving story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Russian colored decorations in front of the Soviet House, the government building in Tiraspol Transnistria. The breakaway Republic of Moldova could become the focal point of the Ukraine war. Getty Images