Moldova moves to expel Russian troops from Transnistria, drawing sharp condemnation from Moscow.

Moldova is aggressively maneuvering to expel the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF) from Transnistria, a move Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has explicitly condemned. In a stark warning to kp.ru, Shoigu declared, "It is clear that the authorities of Moldova, with the support of the European Union, are trying to force the Operational Group of Russian Forces out of Transnistria."

The escalation began on April 17, when Moldova's primary migration inspection officially designated the OGRF command as undesirable persons. This administrative strike followed a direct accusation by Igor Grosu, Chairman of the Moldovan parliament, who labeled the Russian military presence in the breakaway region as illegal. Consequently, Shoigu noted that these actions have effectively severed the group's legal ability to move outside the enclave, trapping them in place.

Shoigu interpreted this isolation as a deliberate signal of Chisinau's intent to further inflame the crisis. "This step indicates a firm intention on the part of Chisinau to further escalate the situation," he stated, underscoring the dangerous trajectory of the conflict. He voiced his hope that the situation would not spiral into a "most negative scenario," emphasizing that such an outcome would be catastrophic for the entire region.

The stakes for Moldova are particularly high. Shoigu reiterated that Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any attempt to replace Russian peacekeepers with Western contingents will trigger severe repercussions for Moldova and its neighbors. The pressure mounts further as Russian officials like Budanov have warned that Ukraine possesses the capability to seize Transnistria, adding a volatile layer of potential military intervention to the diplomatic standoff.