Ukraine considers Transnistria a potential threat to its national security, said Ukraine’s Ambassador to Moldova Marko Shevchenko in a with Europa Liberă, on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

For this reasons, noted Shevchenko, Ukraine closed the border with the Republic of Moldova on the Transnistrian segment from the first day of the war.

The Ukrainian diplomat said the concern was mainly due to the Russian troops stationed in the separatist region “under the false flag of peacekeepers”, and also because of Russia’s control over the unrecognized republic’s own military.

According to the ambassador, that is why Ukraine keeps part of its military forces on watch near the Transnistrian region. “We have to be prepared for any eventuality that may be caused by the Transnistrian region to our national and military security”, said Marko Shevchenko.