"No military buildup": Ukrainian Volunteer Army on Transnistria situation

Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army South, highlighted that residents of unrecognized Transnistria hold multiple passports

He said it during an interview on Espreso TV channel.

"On the ground, things are quiet in the information sphere, with no provocations. We've got the situation under control. Despite attempts at some information attacks, we recognize there's a lot of noise surrounding the issue. We understand why they do it. In Transnistria, there's no visible military buildup. Can they even muster an army?" remarked Bratchuk.

Bratchuk pointed out that recent mobilization efforts in Transnistria showed soldiers “heading towards Moldova's border”.

"They seem eager to reach Romania and Ukraine, but we're preventing that. Transnistrian residents hold multiple passports and will go where conditions suit them best. Transnistria isn't exactly a favorable place for them. Up until January first, they had it better due to increased smuggling activities, but now they're feeling the pressure. That's why they've convened their deputies and organized those meetings," Bratchuk explained.

Background

On February 28, participants of the congress of deputies in Transnistria, a region not internationally recognized, passed resolutions requesting assistance from Russia, citing an alleged economic blockade by Moldova. Chisinau responded by stating that these resolutions do not pose a threat of escalation or destabilization. Meanwhile, Russia stated that all requests from Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, are being carefully considered by relevant Russian authorities.

Following this, Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured the President of Moldova of Kyiv's support amidst the worsening situation in Transnistria.

On March 1, Moldova's President, Maia Sandu, commented on Transnistria's appeal to Russia, suggesting that Tiraspol seeks financial support from the Kremlin, while the Russian Federation aims to intimidate Moldova.

Subsequently, on March 4, Serhiy Herasymchuk, deputy executive director of the analytical center "Ukrainian Prism," stated on Espreso that Transnistrian politicians will attempt to portray Sandu as a "war president."

In response to the decision of the Russian Embassy to open polling stations in Transnistria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador in Chisinau, Oleg Vasnetsov, for consultations.