Ukrainian Intelligence on Tiraspol’s Bid to Become Part of Russia: Not Confirmed

The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry commented on rumors that Transnistria will allegedly “ask” to join the Russian Federation. This was revealed in a commentary by the department’s spokesman, Andriy Yusov, to the Ukrainska Pravda news and analysis website on 22 February. The Ukrainian intelligence doubts that the Transnistrian deputies will appeal to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin regarding the incorporation of the territory into the country. “According to available findings, the information that on February 28 the ‘authorities’ of Transnistria will allegedly ask the Russian Federation to include the region in its composition is currently not confirmed,” Yusov stressed. At the same time, a media source explained where this information had come from. According to the unnamed interlocutor, the rumors about Transnistria joining Russia are part of the internal Moldovan political process. In addition, they create a certain pressure from Transnistria in order to protect economic interests. Transnistrian oppositionist Ghenadi Ciorba said on 22 February that during the “congress of deputies” Transnistria might ask to join Russia. The politician urged the Moldovan authorities to take serious measures. The Moldovan government’s Bureau of Reintegration responded that there were no grounds to expect a deterioration of the situation in the region.