Moldova’s pro-EU leaders have rejected Russian claims that Ukraine is planning to invade the breakaway pro-Russian region of the country, and called for peace.
Russia’s Defense Ministry alleged, without evidence, that Ukrainian saboteurs dressed as Russian soldiers would attack Transnistria under the pretext of a Ukrainian invasion.
Moldova has warned for weeks that Russia is plotting a takeover.
And officials dismissed Russia’s claims as “psy-ops” as part of the war.
“The Ministry of Defense believes that this is an element of a psychological operation rather than a real plan,” said State Secretary Valerio Meja.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu spoke about unprecedented security challenges during a visit to neighboring Romania.
“Some wanted our country to fall and a puppet government to be installed in Chisinau, a slave to Kremlin interests,” he said.
Moldova is not part of NATO, but last June it was granted EU candidate status, along with Ukraine. Earlier this week, the Moldovan leader met with US President Joe Biden, who pledged support for his country’s sovereignty.
Challenges arising from the war in Ukraine
With a population of just 2.6 million, Moldova has one of the poorest economies in Europe and is heavily exposed to the war in Ukraine.
It is facing a major energy crisis as its power infrastructure dates back to the Soviet era. Not only did Russia limit its gas supplies, but its attacks on Ukraine’s power grid had knock-on effects.
Soaring inflation and a large influx of refugees from Ukraine have added to the pressure, leading to protests by the populist and pro-Russian Sur party led by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shur.
There has also been a marked increase in what the new Prime Minister Dorn Racine described as “hybrid attacks”.
Earlier this month, a Russian missile was fired into Ukraine through Moldovan airspace on the day the previous government fell, in what its predecessor called a “multiple crisis.”
President Sandu has accused Russia of conspiring to overthrow Moldova’s leadership with the help of foreign subversives from Russia, Serbia, Belarus and Montenegro. They said their aim was to attack government buildings, take hostages and then spark protests to replace the government “in the service of Russia”.
Shortly after his speech, twelve Serbian soccer fans were barred from entering Chisinau for a match.
The Kremlin accused Moldovan leaders of slipping into anti-Russian hysteria and warned them to be “very, very careful” with their statements.
Political analyst Denis Sinosa said Moldova’s weakest point for pro-Russian forces was its internal socio-economic stability. If Russia fails in the short term, it could succeed at the ballot box in local elections this year and a presidential vote in 2024.
