Chisinau Denies Russian Defense Ministry’s Reports of a Planned Provocation against Transdniestria

The Moldovan authorities do not confirm reports of the Russian Defense Ministry that Kyiv is planning a provocation against Transdniestria. An official release of the Russian defense ministry says that “an armed provocation” is scheduled for the “near future” and “it will be carried out by units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces involving the Azov formation,” tass.ru reports. The Russian ministry further clarified that the pretext for the invasion will be a staged attack by Russian troops from Transdniestria. “For this purpose, the Ukrainian saboteurs involved in the staged invasion will be disguised in the uniform of the Russian Armed Forces,” the ministry added. The Russian Defense Ministry also said that it closely monitors the situation on the Ukrainian border with Transdniestria and is ready to respond to any changes in the situation. The Moldovan authorities do not confirm this information released this morning, February 23, by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Also, the country’s leadership, in the official Telegram channel Prima sursă (First Source), calls for calm and asks the public to follow Moldova-based official and reliable sources. “Our institutions cooperate with foreign partners and immediately inform the public in case of any danger to the country,” officials said in a statement.