The preparatory actions taken by Ukraine on the border with the Republic of Moldova are defensive, not offensive in character, said Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian. According to him, the concentration of troops close to the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border represents preparations by the Ukrainian army for an eventual attack from the Transnistrian region. The digging of trenches on the border is also not an offensive, but a defensive action, IPN reports.
Deputy Premier Oleg Serebrian said the purpose of the Ukrainian troops amassed on the border with the Republic of Moldova is not to attack, but to protect from an eventual attack staged from the Transnistrian region. Ukraine has been warned by military experts about an eventual danger coming from the separatist region of the Republic of Moldova. The goal of Ukraine is to defend itself, not to open the second front.
”It is not a secret that Ukraine concentrated troops close to the Transnistrian region, which could be used on other segments of the border too. The fact that there is a military presence there is not a secret for anyone, including for us. If preparatory measures are taken, these are defensive in character as a lot of military experts have warned since January that a new offensive can take place this spring. It was rumored that an attack can be staged from Belarus, but some consider the Transnistrian region can also be used in a military operation aimed at Odessa,” Oleg Serebrian stated in the program “Résumé with Ileana Pîrgaru” on RliveTV channel.
The official expressed his skepticism about a potential attack under false colors from the Transnistrian region, which would make Ukraine to attack. As regards the trenches dug by the Ukrainian side along the border with the Republic of Moldova, he said the action is aimed at stopping smuggling on the border, but the trenches are a defensive element and nobody prepares for an offense.
Recently, representatives of the Border Police announced that the Border Guard Service of Ukraine dug trenches on the border with the Republic of Moldova. The Ukrainian side explained that its goal is to hamper the illegal crossing of the border and to stop smuggling.
