As many as 700 employees of the specials services of Russia were sent to the Transnistrian region, while the Russian Black Sea fleet is heading for the insular part of Ukraine, the Odessa online publication Dumskaya reported.

Press officer of the Security and Information Service of Moldova Vladimir Ghiletski has told IPN that the information the Service possesses cannot be made public and they cannot comment on press reports.

Asked about these reports, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca told the journalists that they are rumors. However, the authorities will examine the situation.

Russian troops were dispatched to the Crimean peninsula, which declared itself autonomous region after the Kiev administration was ousted and the regional legislature voted for joining Russia. A referendum on the issue is to be held there.

Russia said the troops were deployed in order to maintain peace in the region and to prevent attacks on the Russian citizens living there. The international community condemned Russia’s actions and threatened it with sanctions.