Breakaway Moldovan region suggests Russia deploy more peacekeepers

Though Moldova doesn't allow Russia to send new troops into Transdniestria after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has hundreds of peacekeepers stationed in the area since the bloody conflict between pro-Russian rebels and Moldovan forces.

RIA cited Leonid Manakov, the region's envoy in Moscow, as saying that "Moldova is restricted" from making any military preparations or plans against Trandsniestria as long as Russia continues its peacekeeping mission.

He was quoted saying: "Transnistria repeatedly requested an increase in Russian peacekeepers. This is a reasonable option given the increasing security risks ...,".

Moldova's relations with Russia are strained at the moment and have rapidly deteriorated over the course of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine, which Chisinau repeatedly condemned.

In the past year, Moldova’s pro-Western, pro-Russian government has accused Moscow for interfering in its internal affairs. It also stopped consuming Russian gas and applied to become a member of the European Union.

During the conflict in Ukraine, the Transdniestria Settlement Process, also known as the "5+2 Format", has come to a standstill. Both Kyiv, and Moscow, are participants in the settlement.

Vitalii Andrievschii is a political analyst who believes Manakov could have made his remarks to encourage Moldova to resume dialogue.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin's spokesman, said at a daily press briefing that for the time being he has nothing to say regarding Manakov’s remarks.

Transdniestria is located on the border of southwestern Ukraine and not far from Odesa, a Black Sea port. A small Russian unit is also stationed in the area to protect a large ammunition dump that was left behind after the fall of the Soviet Union.

According to the authorities in the area, 402 Russians are part of this peacekeeping force, followed by 492 Transdniestrians, and 355 Moldovans.

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