Topline
Moldova has denied claims from Ukrainian officials that Russia is massing troops in the separatist region of Transnistria—along the border with Ukraine—to potentially prepare for an attack that could open another front in the war.
A destroyed Russian tank is seen in front of a damaged house on March 31, 2022 in Malaya Rohan, … [+]
Key Facts
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it assessed Russian troops in the Transnistria region—a Russian-occupied, breakaway region in Moldova that borders Ukraine on the southwest near the Black Sea city of Odessa —were preparing to carry out “provocations” across the border.
Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the claim, writing in a tweet there is “no information to confirm the mobilization of troops in the Transnistrian region.”
Transnistria’s Foreign Ministry called the claim “absolutely untrue,” according to multiple media outlets, adding that all military units in the region are “in places of permanent deployment” and that “even planned activities” have been minimized to de-escalate tensions.
Forbes could not independently verify the Ukrainian and Moldovan claims.
Big Number
16,000. That’s about how many Ukrainian refugees that have fled into Moldova since the start of the war, Radio Free Europe reports. Moldovan authorities have been monitoring the threat of Russian troops in Transnistria moving into Ukraine as thousands of Ukrainian refugees enter the country—the largest number of refugees per capita received by any country, the Financial Times reports.
Key Background
Russia has pulled back forces from around Kyiv after Kremlin officials said last week Russia was shifting its focus to the “liberation” of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a speech Friday the eastern portion of the country is preparing for “new, powerful strikes” and described the situation as “extremely difficult.”
Tangent
Russia accused Ukraine of taking the fight to Russian soil Friday with a daring helicopter gunship assault on a fuel depot in Belgorod, but Ukraine denied responsibility for the attack. The British Ministry of Defense said the attack will likely “add additional short-term strain to Russia’s already stretched logistic chains.”
Further Reading
Ukraine Denies Attacking Fuel Depot In Russia (Forbes)
Russia Appears To Scale Back Goals Of Ukraine Invasion (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2022/04/02/moldova-denies-ukrainian-claim-of-russian-troops-massing-in-breakaway-region-to-open-new-front-in-war/