Lavrov Warns Russia Will Consider "Any Action" Endangering Their "Peacekeepers" in Transnistria Like an Attack on Russia Itself

Thursday, 1 September 2022

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would consider any actions in which it sees a threat to its "peacekeepers" in Transnistria as an attack on the Russian Federation.

Newsmaker reports that he said this in an address at Russia's top foreign affairs school on September 1.

"There (in Transnistria) are our peacekeepers. There is our group of military personnel who guard Europe's largest ammunition depots in Kolbasna. Everyone should understand that any kind of actions that will raise a threat to the security of our servicemen will be considered in accordance with international law as an attack on the Russian Federation, as was the case in South Ossetia when Saakashvili attacked our peacekeepers," Lavrov said.

He also stated that "Russophobia is being imposed" in Moldova.

"Unfortunately, we see how the leadership of Moldova gives in to flirtation from the West. The provocative nature of instilling Russophobia there is obvious, just like in Ukraine," said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

A day before, Lavrov had declared Russia's readiness to "do everything" to guarantee the protection of the rights of Russian speakers in Moldova and advised the country "not to play geopolitical games imposed by the West."

At the same time, the President of unrecognized Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, expressed his fear that if hostilities spread beyond the borders of Ukraine to Transnistria, Moldova could become the site of a clash between Russia and NATO. He declared the need to revive negotiations in the "5+2" negotiation format to prevent this scenario.

The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, called on citizens not to fall for the narratives coming from Transnistria and Russia. She emphasized that Moldova's desire to strengthen the army does not mean giving up neutrality or aggressive intentions.

In the late spring and early summer, a series of terrorist attacks occurred in Transnistria without victims. Tiraspol said that the drone, which allegedly dropped grenades on the territory of the Russian contingent's facility, most likely came from Ukraine.

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