Signs of hybrid warfare flourish in Moldova, Ukraine is ready for threat from Transnistria - Humeniuk, OC South

Natalia Humeniuk said this during a media briefing. 

“All measures have been taken on our part, and we are consciously staying in this area with a view to the defense component. By monitoring the internal situation in Moldova, we understand that all the signs of a hybrid war are now flourishing there: they are trying to undermine the socio-political system, promote propaganda narratives and bring teams of agitators of the relevant direction of propaganda there,” the speaker said.

However, according to Humeniuk, “all these measures are very consciously perceived by the Moldovan leadership, and appropriate measures are being taken to localize such work.”

“We were aware that this direction would be in the enemy's interest to play out at certain stages of the war, including hybrid warfare. And we knew at the beginning of the full-scale invasion that they were present there and counted on these forces. That is why the border was sealed before the invasion began. After the absolute closure of this segment for even crossing the border, additional Defense Forces were deployed there, and the border was reinforced. Therefore, our forces are adequately distributed to a hypothetical threat from this direction,” Humeniuk said. 

The spokesperson for the Operational Command South emphasized that Ukrainian defenders do not completely rule out the threat, because “we are dealing with a crazy enemy who is not guided by the norms and rules of warfare, and does not spare his personnel.”

“By adequately assessing the personnel who are there, the contingent that makes up the bulk of the personnel, we understand that these are people who have long been demotivated in these areas and military personnel who are used to serving in conditions of foreign assignment and a kind of 'light conditions' when they are not stressed by anything,” the speaker noted.

Humeniuk says that the enemy is currently experiencing a very strong imbalance in its moral and psychological state.

“Except for a few special units that are ready to carry out sabotage and reconnaissance breakthroughs, provocations, or some provocative shelling from unrecognized Transnistria. These are more or less real threats that we are also ready for, realizing where and how they can use these types of provocations,” the spokeswoman added.

• The head of the Information and Security Service of Moldova, Alexandru Musteață, said that the risk of Russian invasion of Moldovan territory remains and could be realized as early as 2023, but it will depend on the course of hostilities in Ukraine.

• Ukrainian intelligence intercepted the Kremlin's plan to destroy the political situation in Moldova: Moscow planned to destroy democracy in the country and seize power, Chisinau confirmed.

• Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, amid information about Russia's plans to open a new front in the country, said that the government is in favor of a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

• ISW analysts argued that Vladimir Putin may be promoting narratives about 'historical borders' to justify aggression against Moldova and Central Asian countries.

• On February 23, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a second report during the day claiming that Ukraine was preparing to invade Transnistria. Despite the fact that in the morning the official Moldovan authorities had already denied this information.