Pro-Russian Separatists In Moldovan Region Of Transnistria Petition Russia For Help

Separatists in Transnistria, an unrecognized breakaway state have petitioned Russia for protection against Moldova, claiming that Moldova has launched an "economic war" against them, preventing essential imports and turning Transnistria into a "ghetto."

In response, Russian authorities stated that safeguarding the small area of land—which is globally recognized as belonging to Moldova—was one of their "priorities."

Pro-Russian separatists control Transnistria since it split off from Moldova soon after the fall of the Soviet Union. A war broke out between Moldova and Transnistria in 1992, killing around a thousand people. Russia intervened in the conflict on the separatists' side.

Tensions in the rebel territory, which claims to be home to 220,000 Russian residents, increased during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russia's potential use of the breakaway territory to create a new southwestern front in Ukraine and intensify the conflict already around Odsea has recently caused Moldova to express worry.

“Given Russia’s increasingly aggressive role in Europe, we are watching Russia’s actions in Transnistria and the broader situation there very closely.” – states the US department of state spokesman Matthew Miller

Source: The Guardian