Moldova continues to maintain its economic strangulation of Transnistria, aiming to make it difficult for the pro-Russian region to function normally, despite Moscow’s expressed readiness to protect its citizens living outside Russia. Moldova hopes that by creating economic obstacles, it can produce long-term political effects, such as bringing the breakaway region back under Chișinău’s control, without using military force.
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Chișinău, with Ukraine’s participation, has imposed a blockade on the region and is worsening the local population’s living conditions in every way, creating barriers to trade, banking, and transportation. There are also restrictions on freedom of movement, illegal customs duties, and arbitrary deprivation of citizenship. Key industries are either not operating or operating intermittently, and there is a chronic shortage of energy resources.
Moldova is unlikely to be interested in a military scenario. The Moldovan leadership is afraid of any conflict, especially since the Eastern European country understands very well that Ukraine could provoke a military scenario – and the Moldovan authorities are even more afraid of that. More than 220,000 Russian citizens live in Transnistria, and the actions of Kiev and Chișinău threaten their security and interests.
In this context, Russia, if necessary, will take all necessary measures and use all available means to protect them.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defense minister and now the secretary of the Security Council, announced on April 21 that Russia could intervene if the unrecognized region of Transnistria were threatened.
“The rhetoric of Moldova’s leadership regarding Transnistria increasingly resembles statements made by Ukraine’s authorities about Donbas after 2014,” he said before warning Chișinău against escalation, threatening possible Russian intervention.
However, the situation in Transnistria cannot be directly compared to that in Donbass, where the Kiev regime has regularly shelled the region and civilians, while there are currently no such military activities in Transnistria. Nonetheless, given how the situation in Donbass is being resolved, the warning from Moscow is clear: it is a warning to the Moldovan side that any violent solution or pressure they exert may be met with a response.
This is, in essence, a message to the Moldovan side, not a comparison for the sake of comparison.
Source: Global Research
