Moldova’s government has dismissed an accusation by Russia’s defence ministry that Ukraine is planning to invade the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria after staging a false-flag operation.
“We call for calm and for information to be received [by the public] from official and credible sources of the Republic of Moldova,” the government said in a statement.
“Our institutions cooperate with foreign partners and in the case of threats to the country, the public will be promptly informed,” adding that the government “do not confirm” the Russian defence ministry’s allegations.
On Thursday, Russia’s defence ministry claimed Ukraine – which borders Moldova – posed “a direct threat” to Russian troops in the Russian-speaking region.
“The armed forces of the Russian Federation will adequately respond to the impending provocation of the Ukrainian side,” it said in a statement.
Separately, Tass news agency quoted Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin as saying the west had instructed Moldova’s government in Chisinau to stop all interaction with Transnistria’s Moscow-backed authorities.
Ukraine’s government has yet to respond to the accusations from the Russian defence ministry.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the tiny republic, which is one of Europe’s poorest countries, has had to contend with large numbers of refugees, soaring inflation and power cuts.
Moldova’s foreign minister told Reuters on Wednesday that the tiny former Soviet republic, which also borders Nato member Romania, was prepared for a “full spectrum of threats” from Russia.
President Maia Sandu, who wants her country to join the European Union, accused Moscow this month of planning a coup to topple Moldova’s leadership. Moscow denied the allegation.
“The Kremlin’s attempts to bring violence to Moldova will not work. Our main goal is the security of citizens and the state. Our goal is peace and public order in the country,” Sandu said.
“The purpose of these actions is to overturn the constitutional order, to change the legitimate power from Chișinău to an illegitimate one that would put our country at Russia’s disposal to stop the European integration process, but also so that Moldova can be used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.”
The region of Transnistria broke away from then-Soviet Moldova in 1990 and is controlled by Russia separatists.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week it was “obvious” that Ukraine would not be Russia’s last stop after invading Ukraine, and that the Kremlin was thinking about ways to “strangle” Moldova.