The attacks are covered by confusion, with little independent presence in the restrictive area. The Interior Ministry of the unrecognized independent region said drones were spotted flying from Ukraine, as well as shootings, Reuters reported. At least two radio towers broadcast in Russia are said to have been damaged, while Transnistrian officials say shots were fired from inside Ukraine into a village holding an ammunition depot. Russia has blamed Ukraine for carrying out the attacks, while Ukraine has blamed Russia for organizing the bombings. As the violence escalates, Russia’s foreign ministry has said it hopes the escalation will not reach a point where its forces will have to intervene, raising concerns that Moscow intends to expand its attack on Ukraine to neighboring countries. Here’s what you need to know about Transnistria: Russian troops present in “secessionist” Transnistria The Russians are estimated to have about 1,500 troops stationed in Transnistria, where the majority of the population speaks Russian. Pro-Russian territory was seceded from Moldova in the early 1990s and Russian troops have been stationed in the area since the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, Moscow has never formally recognized Transnistria as independent. Moldova has minimal control over the region, which maintains its own army and is backed by Russia. Freedom House, which monitors the state of civil liberties and democracy worldwide, describes Transnistria as “not free” in its 2021 report, with almost no political competition and severely restricted freedom of speech. The United States is monitoring the violence in Transnistria State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday that the government was closely monitoring the recent explosions in Transnistria. “We do not know all the details yet, but we are still worried about any attempts to escalate the tension,” Price said. “We reiterate the Moldovan government’s call for calm in response to these incidents. And we fully support, as you have heard us said in the past, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova. We respect its constitutionally guaranteed neutrality. “ The United States has provided $ 30 million in humanitarian assistance to Moldova to host Ukrainian refugees and $ 100 million in development assistance to strengthen the country’s “long-term democratic and economic resilience,” Price said. The U.S. and Moldovan armies are also working closely together, and the Biden administration has resumed a strategic dialogue that has been stalled for several years. “Moldova is a strong partner,” Price said. “We are working to ensure that they have what they need to respond to the regional consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.” Moscow considers that Moldova is moving very west Moldova has sought greater integration into the European Union and has accelerated these efforts during Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moldovan President Maia Sandu presented key documents to the EU last week, saying it was “one step closer to our acensino offer” for the national bloc. “We are ready to do our part quickly and diligently to give Moldova a chance for a better, safer and more prosperous future,” the president wrote on Twitter. John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, said Russian President Vladimir Putin saw Moldova’s move west as a direct threat to Moscow. “Maia Sandu is not a figure that the Kremlin views with sympathy. “They see her as someone who wants to take Moldova to the West, which of course she does,” he said. “Thus, strengthening Moscow’s military presence in Transnistria would not only strengthen its aggression against Ukraine, but also its ability to put pressure on a government in Chisinau that it does not like.” Russian official has expressed interest in Transnistria as part of the attack on Ukraine Rustam Minnekayev, deputy commander of Russia’s Central Military District, said Russia wanted to create a path for Russian forces from Crimea to Ukraine in Transnistria. The move would require Russia to occupy much of southern and eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are concentrating their attacks after failing to secure the capital, Kiev. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov did not confirm or deny the allegations when asked. Minnekayev’s observation was the first time Russia had admitted to having territorial ambitions during the war. Ukraine warns that Transnistria is the next front Ukrainian officials have been warning for weeks that the war will not be limited to their borders, but have sounded the alarm after Minkayev’s comment. “They are not going to stop. “The administration of Russia’s central military district has announced the next victim of the Russian attack,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry wrote on Twitter. After gaining control of southern Ukraine, Russia plans to invade Moldova, where it is said that the Russian-speakers are “oppressed.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is ready for Russia to try to destabilize the region and escalate tensions. Top home buyers marginalized by higher mortgage rates Nation hears mixed pandemic messages “The goal is obvious – to destabilize the situation in the region, to threaten Moldova. “They show that if Moldova supports Ukraine, there will be some steps,” Zelensky said. “We clearly understand that this is one of the steps taken by the Russian Federation. “Special services work there,” Zelenski said. “But we understand their potential, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are ready for that and they are not afraid of them.” The Ukrainians have warned that Russia will carry out false-flag operations to take responsibility for their country.
