Transnistria alleges border shooting with Ukraine, Ukrainian Border Service reports no incident recorded
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine commented on Transnistria's statement about the shooting incident (Photo: facebook.com DPSUkraine)
The so-called Transnistria has claimed a supposed shooting incident at the border with Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service did not record any such incidents, according to the statement from the Ministry of State Security of Transnistria and a comment to RBC-Ukraine from the spokesperson of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko.
"Today, the so-called Transnistrian Ministry of State Security (MSS) claimed that an incident involving gunfire occurred near the border with Ukraine on January 7th. According to their statement, two Transnistrian individuals purportedly found themselves on Ukrainian territory after the shooting.
In a comment to RBC-Ukraine, Demchenko has stated that he is unaware of any incidents on the Transnistrian segment of the border with Moldova, suggesting that the claims by the so-called MSS might carry a provocative nature.
"No irregular situations were recorded by border patrols. The statement from the so-called Transnistria is more likely of a provocative nature, aimed at blaming Ukraine for something, especially considering this enclave's pro-Russian orientation," explains the representative of the State Border Guard Service.
What is Transnistria
Transnistria, or the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), is an unrecognized self-proclaimed state within Moldova's territory. The PMR occupies nearly the entire Moldovan part of the left bank of the Dniester River, as well as several localities on the right bank of the river.
The PMR declared its independence in 1991, and in 2006, Transnistrian separatists sought to join Russia. Currently, the so-called Russian peacekeepers are present in the PMR, but Russia does not recognize Transnistria's independence.
PMR and the war in Ukraine
Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a threat of a Russian military attack from the territory of Transnistria.
Additionally, last year, there were claims in Transnistria about supposedly preventing a "terrorist act" allegedly being prepared on the orders of the Security Service of Ukraine. As explained by the Center for Strategic Communications, Russia uses Transnistria to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and Moldova.
Similar statements in Ukraine are seen as an attempt by the puppet authorities of Transnistria to assert their subjectivity and solicit more assistance from Moscow.
