NEW WAR IN EUROPE? Russian Citizens in Moldova’s Breakaway Republic of Transnistria Allegedly Under Threat, as Moscow Vows To Protect Them at Any Cost
Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Romania… all in the same powder-keg situation.
Many people don’t remember, but the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, began as Russia moved to protect Russian-speaking populations in the Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk).
Now, even as the conflict with Kiev is still raging, another minority Russian population becomes focus of attention of Russian military authorities.
We’re talking about Transnistria, a Russian enclave in Moldova – which itself is a former part of Romania.
🇲🇩 Moldova has declared the leadership of Russian troops in Transnistria persona non grata and banned them from entering the country. pic.twitter.com/yqntJLJmON
— Brave Romania (@brave_romania) April 16, 2026
Now, former defense minister and current secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, has come to the public to warn that the safety of Russians in the Transnistria region is currently under threat.
Shoigu further warned yesterday (21) that Moscow will take all steps to protect their citizens.
❗️Moldova has placed senior commanders of Russian forces in Transnistria on its list of undesirable persons, including OGRF commander Dmitry Zelenkov, blocking their entry and restricting movement beyond the unrecognized enclave. #Moldova pic.twitter.com/iAtjxlM9Dq
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 17, 2026
Reuters reported:
“Pro-Russia Transnistria broke from Moldova before the collapse of Soviet rule and, after a brief war in 1992, has existed in peace alongside the post-Soviet state for more than three decades. Moldova’s pro-European authorities have recently been applying greater pressure on the separatist enclave.”
In an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda, Shoigu has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Transnistria, highlighting both its severity and the missed opportunities for improvement:https://t.co/HziaQT3mcM pic.twitter.com/EIYYgCacJW
— TASS (@tassagency_en) April 21, 2026
Shoigu said Moscow is ready ‘to use any means’ to protect Russians in the sliver of land that borders Ukraine.
“’It must not be forgotten that more than 220,000 Russian citizens live in Transnistria. Their interests and safety are now under threat due to the ill-considered and irresponsible actions of Kiev and Chisinau’,” Shoigu told the daily.
‘If the need arises, Russia will take all necessary steps and use all available methods to protect them under the constitution. You mustn’t rule anything out, and we are considering all possible scenarios, even those that are most unlikely’.”
“Transnistria objects to Moldova’s decision last week barring entry to commanders of a 1,500-strong contingent of Russian ‘peacekeepers’ that has stood between the two sides since 1992. It also rejects the Chisinau government’s plan to extend customs duties and value added tax to the rebel region.”
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