International • 13:33 • Modified at 13:33 Moldovan PM: Moscow wants to send 10,000 troops to rebellious Transnistria Author : Mark van Harreveld Russia wants to deploy 10,000 troops to the Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria on the border with Ukraine and wants to install a pro-Kremlin government in Moldova, Prime Minister Dorin Recean told the Financial Times. According to the prime minister, Russia is actively trying to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections in September, in the hope that Moldova will get a pro-Russian government.
Transnistria is a pro-Russian region that declared independence from Moldova in 1992 with the help of the Russian army. In the self-declared republic, which is otherwise only recognized by Russia and the rebellious Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Moscow has stationed a 'peacekeeping force' of some 1,500 Russian soldiers.
Read also 'EU to supply weapons to Moldova soon' Putin can't send more troops there, however, because Transnistria, which has about 370,000 inhabitants, is wedged between Moldova and Ukraine. But he is trying, says Recean. 'They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistria region.'
Undermining And to that end, the Kremlin is pushing, not for the first time, for a change of government in Moldova, which is trying to join the EU. "This is a huge attempt to undermine Moldovan democracy," Recean said. According to the prime minister, Moscow's interference consists of online propaganda and illegal money transfers to parties and voters. In 2024, Russia already spent the equivalent of 1 percent of Moldova's GDP on influence campaigns.
Read also Energy shortages and Russian destabilization threaten Moldova's EU accession Last October, a referendum on EU membership was won by just 0.7 percent of voters, after what Recean's government also accused of a large-scale Russian influence campaign.
Destabilization of NATO Should Moscow succeed in actually sending 10,000 troops to Transnistria, it would be a huge security risk, the prime minister said. 'You can imagine what the influence and pressure would be on the southwestern part of Ukraine with 10,000 troops. But also close to Romania, which is a NATO member state.'
After Transnistrian independence in 1992, which was not recognized by anyone, Moscow stationed soldiers there, but since then Russian troops in the area have dwindled. An estimated 1,500 troops remain under the Russian flag, but most are locals who have joined the force, with only a handful actually sent from Russia.
Read also 'Arrest of Gagauzia leader is part of secret Russian destabilization campaign' "Right now, their forces there are almost meaningless. But with a higher military presence in Transnistria that a pro-Russia government can allow, they can consolidate," Recean said, adding that he based the 10,000-troop target on intelligence estimates.
Read also South Ossetia wants to become Russian, but waits for green light The bulk of the Russian contingent in Transnistria is aimed at securing a huge arms stockpile in the region left over from the Soviet era. Chi?in?u has repeatedly called for them to be removed, saying their presence violates the country’s sovereignty.
