Authorities in Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova, said Thursday they had foiled an attack blamed on Kiev against several senior officials, amid heightened tensions related to the conflict in Ukraine. In a statement, Transnistria's Ministry of Public Security said it had "thwarted a terrorist attack" which the source said was "prepared by Ukrainian security services against several officials" in the breakaway region. It was impossible to independently verify these claims.
"The place where the terrorist act was to take place shows that the objective was first the elimination of the leaders of the state and […] to cause a large number of victims, since the terrorist act was to take place in the center of Tiraspol where many citizens were to be gathered, "said, according to Russian agencies, the prosecutor of the region, Anatoly Guretsky.
The Ukrainian security services (SBU) denied Thursday, denouncing as a "provocation orchestrated by the Kremlin" the allegations of the authorities of Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova, who claimed to have thwarted an attack attributed to Kiev. "Any statement […] by the false 'People's Republic of Transnistria' regarding the SBU's participation in the preparation of a terrorist attack should be considered exclusively as a provocation orchestrated by the Kremlin," Ukrainian services said on Telegram.
For its part, Moldova said on Thursday it was "investigating" into allegations by authorities in Transnistria, its pro-Russian separatist region, who claimed to have foiled an attack blamed on Kiev. "The competent authorities are investigating this information", reacted the government on Facebook, while Prime Minister Dorin Recean affirmed "not to have confirmation" and said he was ready to "respond to any provocation".
“I have already instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to prepare statements to all members of the UN Security Council. (…) We will call (them) to examine this situation and ensure our safety, ”said in Russian the leader of the separatists, Vadim Krasnosselsky, in a televised address.
Transnistria, a Russian-speaking region of Moldova on the border with Ukraine, declared its independence after a short war after the fall of the USSR and is not recognized by any state. It is supported by Russia, which has a military contingent there, while Moldova, a Romanian-speaking country of the former Soviet Union, is resolutely turned towards European integration, ambitions that Moscow sees with a dim view. Since Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine, there have been regular speculations that it could open a new front from Transnistria in the direction of Odessa.
