Unrecognized Transnistria asks Russia to increase number of "peacekeepers"

That's according to NewsMaker, Ukrinform reports.

The head of the "Representation" of unrecognized Transnistria in Russia, Leonid Manakov, reported that Tiraspol asked Moscow to increase the number of "peacekeepers" due to “heightened security risks” He noted that this can be done through the involvement of Russians living in the Transnistrian region.

Manakov said that currently, no more than 450 people remained in the security zone.

"At the same time, the number of staff, established by the commission’s documents stands at 3,100. Such an option (increasing the number of peacekeepers) is in place, and it is justified from the point of view of heightened security risks, in particular, the terrorist threat, and at the same time is legally justified by documents adopted within the scope of the activities of the of the Joint Control Commission (JCC)," Manakov said.

The Bureau of Reintegration of Moldova, commenting on Manakov's request, emphasized that it is "the parties who signed the Agreement of July 21, 1992, not those who have nothing to do with it, can talk about the peacekeeping force mechanism."

It is noted that earlier, Russian mass media, with reference to their sources, spread reports that Ukrainian troops were allegedly "planning provocations in Transnistria to distract Russian troops."

At the same time, Oleg Belyakov, co-chairman of the JCC representing unrecognized Transnistria, commenting on rumors about plotted provocations, said that "so far we do not have such information within the framework of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces." The head of Tiraspol's foreign policy agency, Vitaly Ignatyev, said on Russian TV that the situation in the security zone is "relatively stable" so far.

Last week, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, announced that Ukraine is not going to take any action against the unrecognized Transnistria, even though the region poses a risk to the country. He emphasized that Transnistria poses a threat to Ukraine, and that "this forces us to keep forces on this part of the border for potential deterrence and control of the situation." However, Kyiv respects Moldova's sovereignty and its decision to reintegrate Transnistria, Kuleba emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, at the weekly meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) of Moldova, representatives from Chisinau once again reported the violation of the security regime by the Russian military in the unrecognized Transnistria. Before that, similar statements were made repeatedly.

In February, the Ministry of Defense of Russia stated that Ukrainian forces were allegedly planning to launch an armed provocation in Transnistria in the near future. Moldova and Ukraine denied the claim.

In April 2022, on the territory of the self-proclaimed Transnistria, explosions occurred near the administrative buildings of the unrecognized entity, as well as outside the Tiraspol Airport. President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, then stated that these provocations were organized from within. The leader of the unrecognized territory accused the Ukrainian authorities of "terrorist actions."