A drone strike at a military installation in Moldova’s breakaway republic of Transnistria on Sunday destroyed a helicopter and ignited a fire, according to authorities in the pro-Russia region. The area’s pro-Russia officials attributed the strike to Ukraine.
Moldova’s Bureau for Reintegration Policies released a statement indicating that upon reviewing video footage, they found no evidence of an attack on Transnistria. They described the incident as an attempt to instill fear and panic in the region. The bureau also clarified that the military equipment destroyed in the footage had been non-operational for several years. Authorities in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, were reported to be in communication with Ukraine regarding the situation.
Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in Transnistria, ostensibly as peacekeepers, safeguarding extensive Soviet-era weapons and ammunition stockpiles at the military depot in Cobasna. The drone strike targeted a base in Tiraspol, the region's capital, and it remains unclear whether any Russian troops were present at the site.
This incident follows recent appeals from officials in Transnistria to Moscow for protection amid escalating tensions with Moldova's pro-Western government. Moldova, a candidate for European Union membership, implemented new customs duties on January 1 for imports to and exports from Transnistria, which shares a border with Ukraine. Notably, Transnistria lacks recognition from any U.N. member countries, including Russia, which maintains strong ties with the region.
Last month, members of the Transnistrian congress convened a rare meeting in Tiraspol, urging Russia's State Duma to take action in defense of Transnistria due to mounting pressure from Moldova, citing the significant number of Russian citizens residing in the region.
The drone strike coincided with the final day of Russia's closely monitored three-day presidential election. On the same day, an individual was apprehended for throwing two Molotov cocktails at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, where voting for the election was underway.
