Ukrainian troops advanced to the borders of Transnistria. reported The head of the RIA Novosti movement “We are with Russia” is Vladimir Rogov, member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporozhye region.
“According to the operational information received, the Zelensky regime ordered the transfer of troops to the borders of Transnistria. “We can say with a high probability that Zelensky is preparing to attack Transnistria,” he said.
According to Rogov, such plans of Kiev are further proof that the frontiers of the Russian military special operation should be extended to Odessa.
Earlier in the day, on February 26, Rogov posted on his Telegram channel a photo of a specific document dated February 23. According to this decree, the personnel of the engineer-sapper battalion of the 28th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by February 27 must advance to the Kuchurgan settlement on the border of Pridnestrovie.
The source of Izvestia confirmed the authenticity of the order, a copy of the document is at the disposal of the editors. There was no official confirmation from the Ukrainian authorities regarding the deployment of the battalion within the borders of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
On February 23, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Kiev is preparing an armed provocation against the PMR. According to the agency, the Ukrainian military, including members of the Azov nationalist battalion, will participate in it (the organization is banned in Russia). Ukraine wants to organize an attack by the army of the Russian Armed Forces, based in Transnistria, as a pretext to occupy the territory of the republic. For this, the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will change into Russian uniforms.
The Ministry of Defense said that they are monitoring the situation on the Ukraine-Pridnestrovian border and are ready to respond to any threat if necessary.
Later, the RF Ministry of Defense spoke about the increased activity of the Ukrainian army near the Pridnestrovian border – an accumulation of personnel and military equipment was recorded in the region, the deployment of artillery to firing positions and an increase in drone flights. PMR region. The Russian Foreign Ministry also warned Kiev against “adventurous steps” in Transnistria.
On February 24, former adviser of Zelensky’s office, Aleksey Arestovich, said that if necessary, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will seize the territory of the PMR in three days.
“Moldova is a sovereign state and it decides for itself from whom to seek help. We can only assist with the decision of the Moldovan authorities. We have an opportunity. It can be resolved in three days, Arestovich said.
In Moldova, they denied the information of the Ministry of Defense about the upcoming provocation of the Ukrainian army. Previously, Chisinau has repeatedly stated that it does not see any threat from the Ukrainian Armed Forces for Pridnestrovie.
On Sunday, Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, commenting on President Maia Sandu’s words about the country’s possible NATO membership, said the Pridnestrovian army is much better armed than the Moldovan national army. Grosu stressed that the army on the other side of the Dniester could use ammunition from warehouses in Kolbasna.
Army depots in the Transnistrian village of Kolbasna, close to the Ukrainian border, are considered to be Europe’s largest stockpiles of ammunition. About 20,000 tons of shells, aerial bombs, mines, grenades and cartridges are stored here. And more than half of them are overdue for use and shipping. In 2019, the head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, during a visit to Chisinau, proposed liquidating the arsenal or removing it from the territory of the partially recognized republic. But Russia and Moldova did not have time to develop a joint plan.
Since 1995, an operational group of Russian troops has been deployed in Transnistria with a peacekeeping mission, whose tasks include guarding the warehouses in Kolbasna. According to the latest data, the group consists of 1,700 soldiers and officers – two motorized rifle battalions. It does not have large communication centers, artillery, aviation, tanks, and the recruitment of the troop is mainly at the expense of the local population.