Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria claims third attack

The Security Council of the self-proclaimed Moldovan republic of Transnistria, which borders Ukraine, today denounced a third attack in the territory of the separatist enclave in less than 24 hours against a military unit in Parcani, near the separatist region's capital, Traspol. 

"There were three terrorist attacks in Pridnestrovie (Transnistria). They fired grenade launchers at the building of the Ministry of State Security, there were two explosions at the broadcasting centre in the village of Maiak and they also attacked a military unit in Parcani," the press service of the separatist region's president, Vadim Krasnoselski, said on his Telegram channel. 

The local authorities gave no further details of the third attack on the military unit in Parcani. The leader of the separatist region held a Security Council meeting today where he decided to "strengthen security measures".   

Transnistria has implemented the "red terrorist threat" level for at least 15 days. The Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Investigative Commission and the Prosecutor's Office of the separatist region are "investigating terrorist acts", the press service added. "The perpetrators will be prosecuted for terrorism, attempted murder, illegal possession of weapons," it added.

Peacekeepers "control the situation in the security zone," the authorities said, referring to Russian troops who have been in the area since 1992 under the Agreement on the Peaceful Settlement of the conflict.  

The territory, which has a population of barely half a million, mostly Slavs, severed ties with Moldova after an armed conflict (1992-1993) in which it received Russian assistance, and which now has some 2,000 troops in the area to guarantee peace.  

It was also decided to cancel the Victory Day parade and fireworks - which commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany every 9 May - and to put the power structures on standby. 

At the entrance to the cities, cars will be randomly inspected at checkpoints during the day and at night, the press service explained.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhail Podolyak on Tuesday accused Russia of trying to "destabilise" the situation in the Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria, which has seen several attacks in the past 24 hours. 

"The bad news is that if Ukraine does not resist, tomorrow the enemy will be at the gates of Chisinau," Podolyak wrote on Twitter, referring to the Moldovan capital. "The good news is that Ukraine will provide strategic security in the region," he said, adding that this requires Kiev and its allies to work "as one team". 

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it was "concerned" about attempts to "aggravate" the situation in the region, in a statement released to the media. 

The attacks coincide with statements by the Russian army leadership about its intentions to take control of all of southern Ukraine and establish a corridor connecting to the separatist enclave, the ministry said. 

"Ukraine supports the territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders," the statement stressed, noting that Kiev condemns "attempts to drag the Transnistrian Moldovan region into a full-scale war against Ukraine". 

At least three attacks have taken place in the territory of the separatist enclave in the last 24 hours, the Transnistrian Security Council has announced. 

A grenade launcher attack on the Ministry of State Security was followed by two explosions at a broadcasting centre and an attack on a military unit. 

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said today that the attacks were perpetrated by internal Transnistrian forces interested in destabilising the situation and condemned what she called "provocations".