Russian special services, notably the FSS, are actively seeking to enlist Ukrainian nationals who illegally cross the Moldovan-Ukrainian border through the Transnistrian region. According to a report by gordonua.com citing the National Resistance Center of Ukraine, individuals entering the separatist-controlled zone become prime targets for Russian intelligence operations.
“The Russian Federal Security Service (FSS) is targeting Ukrainian citizens who unlawfully traverse the border into the ‘Transnistrian Moldovan Republic,’ aiming to gather intelligence on military installations and the layout of the Ukrainian border with Transnistria. Employing coercion tactics including blackmail, these individuals are coerced into becoming permanent freelancers and informants under threat of expulsion to Ukraine,” warns the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“These hostile actions underscore the lack of autonomy within the ‘PMR’ and reaffirm its status as a territory occupied by the Russian Federation. Consequently, we strongly advise against Ukrainian citizens visiting the so-called ‘republic,’ irrespective of the means of entry.”
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In light of these developments, the Ukrainian media recalls that last year, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Transnistria as a territory under Russian occupation.
Amidst these circumstances, the Kremlin is instigating the separatists to heighten tensions. The recent “congress of deputies at all levels” convened on February 28, 2024, urged their Moscow backers to shield them from “mounting pressure from Moldova.” Under the pretext of “violations of rights and freedoms of Transnistria’s inhabitants,” pro-Moscow separatists demand intervention from the OSCE, the European Parliament, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN Secretary-General, and the CIS to exert pressure on the leadership of the Republic of Moldova to revert to a dialogue format conducive to their interests.
According to gordonua.com, citing Ukrainian military intelligence reports, Moscow anticipated a more belligerent outcome from the Tiraspol event but failed to achieve their desired objectives. “Their political and informational endeavors faltered,” stated Ukraine’s defense intelligence.