Chisinau, Moldova – A drone strike targeted a military installation in the breakaway region of Transnistria, destroying a helicopter and causing a fire, authorities in the pro-Russia area reported.
Officials in the pro-Russian region pointed fingers at Ukraine for the strike. However, Moldova’s Bureau for Reintegration Policies stated that they did not confirm any attack on Transnistria after reviewing video footage of the incident. They called it an attempt to instill fear and panic in the region.
The footage circulated on social media showed military equipment being destroyed, which the bureau noted had not been operational for several years. Authorities in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau were said to be in communication with Ukraine regarding the incident.
Transnistria is where Russia maintains a presence with about 1,500 troops stationed as peacekeepers, safeguarding Soviet-era weapons and ammunition at a military depot in Cobasna. The drone strike hit a base in Tiraspol, the region’s capital, raising questions about the possible presence of Russian troops at that particular site.
Tensions between Transnistria and Moldova’s pro-Western government had already been mounting, leading officials in the breakaway region to seek protection from Moscow. Moldova recently imposed new customs duties on imports to and exports from Transnistria, a region that shares borders with Ukraine and is not recognized by any United Nations member states.
In a bid for Russian support, members of the Transnistrian congress urged the Russian Duma to take action to defend the region amid increasing pressure from Moldova, pointing out the significant number of Russian citizens residing in Transnistria.
The drone strike incident coincided with the final day of Russia’s presidential elections, where a man was apprehended for throwing Molotov cocktails at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. The elections took place as tensions continued to simmer in the region.