Russian troops conduct exercises in Transnistria
Military exercises involving the armed forces of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and servicemen of the Operational Group of the Russian Armed Forces in the region (about 200 people) are held at the training ground in Tiraspol, Ukrinform reports.
According to the published data by the so-called Defense Ministry of Transdniestria, military exercises with the participation of artillery units are conducted "with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of interaction between various armed forces."
A few days earlier, similar military exercises imitating the crossing of the river were held in the Security Zone on the Dniester. Head of the Ministry of Defense of Moldova Eugen Sturza called the exercises provocative.
Official Chisinau has not yet commented on the next military exercises in the territory of the unrecognized Transnistria.
The Republic of Moldova had repeatedly stated the need for a full and unconditional withdrawal of the Operational Group of Russian troops from the region.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense considers the Russian grouping in Transnistria a threat not only for Moldova but also for the southern regions of Ukraine.
As reported, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu announced the largest military exercises since 1981, in which about 300,000 servicemen and about 36,000 units of ground equipment will take part. The exercises named "East-2018" will be held on September 11-15.