Explosions in the separatist region: Moldova summoned its security council

Maia Sandu will hold a meeting of the Supreme Security Council today in connection with the incidents in the Transnistria regionsaid the president in a statement.

This meeting will begin at 1 pm local time, and will be followed by a press conference by the pro-European head of state at 3 pm, according to the same source.

This initiative illustrates the concern that reigns in Moldova, a former Soviet republic that fears becoming Moscow’s next target, after Ukraine, a neighboring country where Russia is leading a military offensive when more than two months.

This fear was reinforced after a series of explosions that took place on Monday and Tuesday in the separatist region of Transnistria, which Russia supported economically and militarily.

From red alert to terrorist alert

On Tuesday, two explosions damaged a radio tower, knocking out two powerful antennas relaying Russian radio frequencies, the Interior Ministry said Republic self -expressing.

The two explosions occurred in Mayak, a locality located not far from the Ukrainian border, about fifty kilometers north of capital city from Transnistria, Tiraspol, added the same source.

The other day, Transnistrian authorities said the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Security in Tiraspol had been the target of an attack using a grenade launcher.

These two incidents did not cause any casualties, but the Transnistrian security council decided on Tuesday to raise the alert level. terroristwhich strengthens the power of the security forces.

The level of security is recognized as critical. The decision was made to introduce a red alert level on the terrorist threatsaid a decree from the pro-Moscow leader of the separatist region, Vadim Krasnosselsky.

The military parade was also canceled on May 9 in Tiraspol, commemorating the end of World War II.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby reacted Tuesday morning, making sure the United States was monitoring what was happening in Moldova, but it was too early to comment on the situation.

Tighter relations between Russia and Moldova

Russia carefully following the situation in Transnistria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, adding that the information coming from it is worrying.

Moldova, a small country in Eastern Europe with 2.6 million people tied between Romania and Ukraine, is already suffering the consequences of the war in Ukraine, with the influx of more than 400,000 refugees fleeing the violence.

Moldova now fears the conflict will be overcome, as its relations with Russia have been strained since Ms. Sandu, a pro-European leader. Moldova is not a member state of the European Union.

This concern was heightened last week after a Russian general claimed that Moscow wanted to occupy southern Ukraine - bordering Transnistria - in order to have direct access to this separatist enclave.

General Rustam Minnekayev, deputy commander of the forces of the Central Russian Military District, also considered that the Russian -speaking population of Moldova is a victim ofoppressionone of the reasons that urged Moscow to intervene in Ukraine to defend the Russian minority.

Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador to protest against these statements considered threats, calling on Moscow to respect territorial stance.

A territory highly dependent on Russia

Transnistria seceded from Moldova after a brief civil war following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The separatist region has its own currency and its own security forces.

This territory, with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, is highly dependent on Russia, which provides it with free gas and deploys 1,500 soldiers there.

Transnistria is not recognized as a state by the international community, including Moscow, which however considers it a bridge not far from the borders of the European Union.