Russia’s special services, primarily the FSB, are trying to recruit Ukrainian citizens who illegally cross the Moldovan-Ukrainian border on the Transnistrian segment. In the separatist zone, they become potential targets of the Russian intelligence services, gordonua.com reported, with reference to the National Resistance Center of Ukraine.

“Citizens of Ukraine who illegally crossed the border with the “Transnistrian Moldovan Republic” are being recruited by representatives of the Russian Federal Security Service. They are trying to extract information from citizens who have illegally crossed the border with Transnistria about military facilities and the arrangement of the Ukrainian border with Transnistria. Using blackmail, they are persuaded to work as freelancers and informants permanently, otherwise they are threatened with expulsion to Ukraine,” warns the body of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“Such hostile actions again demonstrate that the “PMR” lacks subjectivity and is a territory occupied by the Russian Federation. Therefore, we urge Ukrainians not to visit the “republic” regardless of the legality of the way to get there.”
 
In this connection, the Ukrainian press reminds that last year, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Transnistria as territory occupied by the Russian Federation.

Under these circumstances, the Kremlin is pushing the separatists to escalate the situation. The recent “congress of deputies of all levels” held on February 28, 2024 called on their masters in Moscow to protect them from “the growing pressure from Moldova”. Under the false reason that “the rights and freedoms of the inhabitants of Transnistria are violated”, the pro-Moscow separatists demand that the OSCE, the European Parliament, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Secretary-General, as well as the CIS, “put pressure on the leadership of the Republic of Moldova” to return to the sterile dialogue format that suits them.

According to gordonua.com, which makes reference to Ukrainian military reports, Moscow expected another, much more bellicose request from the “event” held in Tiraspol, but “didn’t obtain the desired result”. “Their efforts, both political and informational, failed,” said the defense intelligence of Ukraine.