It is normal for Ukraine to build up its military presence on the border with the Transnistrian region as the safety of Odessa is a priority for the Ukrainian authorities. At the same time, the constitutional authorities of the Republic of Moldova are convinced that not Ukraine is the aggressor state, said Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian, noting those actions by Ukraine are defensive preparations, not offensive actions, IPN reports.
The official said the presence of Ukrainian troops on the border with the Republic of Moldova is not a secret for the Moldovan authorities. Ukraine has concentrated troops and military equipment close to the Transnistrian region after the war broke out so as to prevent an eventual attack on the part of the separatist region.
“Maps showing that the Transnistrian region can be used as a platform for an eventual attack on Ukraine, combined with an offensive from the East, have appeared since last March. Only the military success of Ukraine on the Nistru, the stopping of this offensive near Nikolayev, thwarted this plan. Significant Ukrainian troops have been deployed close to the Transnistrian region long ago as the Odessa port is at a distance of 35 km in a straight line from the Transnistrian region. So, the safety of Odessa is the only important thing for Ukraine. To prevent any danger, the Ukrainian troops have been permanently present there,” Oleg Serebrian stated in the program “At 360 Degrees” on Radio Moldova station.
According to the official, the Moldovan authorities are sure that Ukraine will not attack the Transnistrian region first and the rhetoric that Kyiv gets ready for an eventual attack on the region is false and manipulative.
“Following discussions about a Russian offensive from the South, the military presence has been built up. We are firmly convinced that Ukraine is not an aggressor state. There are also those who want to present Ukraine as a state that creates problems in this region. This is an attempt to distract attention and shift the responsibilities,” noted Oleg Serebrian.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Kyiv had been concentrating troops on the border with the Republic of Moldova as it planned to attack the Transnistrian region. According to the Kremlin, any attack on the Russian soldiers and peacekeepers in the region will be perceived as an attack on the Russian Federation.
