Moldova calls security meeting after explosions in pro-Russian zone

Moldova’s president convened the National Security Council on Tuesday after a series of explosions in the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria..

(Read here: Russia plans to take southern Ukraine and unite it with the Moldova region)

President Maia Sandu “is going to hold a meeting of the Supreme National Security Council today” and then offer a press conference, in relation to the explosions that shook a radio station and a ministerial headquarters, the presidency reported.

This announcement comes as Moldova fears being drawn into the conflict in neighboring Ukraine, invaded by Russia on February 24..

(You may be interested in: Could Moldova be Vladimir Putin’s next target?)

Several explosions occurred on Monday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Security in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, following a grenade launcher attack that caused no injuries, police in this Russian-backed breakaway region of Moldova said.

The explosions occurred on Monday at 3 pm (local time), according to witnesses quoted by local media. Firefighters and police responded to the scene and traffic in the center was blocked by police.

Bordering Ukraine, Transnistria was separated from Moldova after a brief civil war after the fall of the Soviet Union.

The breakaway region has its own currency and its own security forces. This territory, with some 500,000 inhabitants, is highly dependent on Russia, which supplies it with free gas and deployed 1,500 soldiers there.

(In other news: Transnistria, the European country that ‘doesn’t exist’)

Transnistria is not recognized as a state by the international community, including Russiawhich nevertheless considers it an outpost not far from the borders of the European Union.

AFP

More news