Kremlin has no opportunities to destabilize situation in Moldova - diplomat

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"Russia started injecting money into Moldova to undermine the internal situation 25 years ago. The information campaign about Transnistria joining Russia is aimed at creating the perception that Russia is everywhere, and that something needs to be done, but in reality, nothing needs to be done," noted Kharchenko. "If there really was some major turmoil there, half of the population of Transnistria would already be in Moldova,"

According to the diplomat, Moscow currently lacks the means to seriously destabilize the situation in Moldova because the sentiments there are pro-European.

"Transnistria is cut off from information other than Russian. All television there is pro-Russian. Russians simply escalate the situation in Moldova, they don't care about Transnistria. Just in case, let it be there so that it can be used to destabilize Moldova. Russia is only sowing discord and turmoil there. This is Russia's attempt at a major information game," emphasized Kharchenko.

• It is worth noting that a "congress of deputies at all levels" is scheduled for February 28th in Tiraspol. So-called Transnistrian politicians do not hide the fact that Russia will be the topic of discussion at the congress. At the same time, Ukraine's Ambassador to Moldova, Marko Shevchenko, stated that, according to his information, the issue of Transnistria's accession to the Russian Federation is not currently on the agenda.

• The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) later stated that the grouping of Russian troops currently concentrated in unrecognized Transnistria does not pose a military threat to Ukraine.

• On February 25, the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate stated that the information that Transnistria would be asked to join Russia at the so-called Congress of Deputies on February 28 was not true.