Zelenskyy warns of risks from Transnistria if Moldova elects pro-Russian parliament

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that if pro-Russian forces win the elections in Moldova, new threats to Ukraine may arise, in particular from Transnistria.

During a briefing on 27 September, the head of state recalled that at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, several shots were fired from Transnistria, but after clear signals from Ukraine, the situation there remained calm.

«If there are people in Transnistria today who are in the leadership of this territory, because no one considers Transnistria to be a country, it is an occupied territory of Moldova. Therefore, the people who are there today are quiet. They are afraid of us. And they know, because they all received signals from us at the beginning of the war. There were a couple of shots from this territory,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, the President stressed that if Moldova's political course changes, the situation could escalate. According to him, the Russians are following the usual scenario — first, they try to establish political control, and only then send in troops.

«There are risks there, and risks for everyone... Today, Moldova has a pro-European president, but if the policy in Moldova is not pro-European but pro-Russian, then these people who are quiet can be loud, because there are several thousand Russian military there,» the head of state noted.

Parliamentary elections in Moldova

On 28 September, parliamentary elections will be held in Moldova, which may determine the country's future course — towards the European Union or towards strengthening ties with Russia.

Against this backdrop, on 22 September, during large-scale searches in Moldova, 74 people were detained on suspicion of having been trained in Serbia to organise mass disorder during the 28 September parliamentary elections.

Later, President of Moldova Maia Sandu said that Russia could turn Moldova into a springboard for an attack on Odesa region.

On 23 September, more than 30 searches were conducted in Moldova on suspicion of Russian interference in the elections.

In light of this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the EU to support Moldova in order to avoid repeating the mistake with Georgia.

Media reported that Russia was recruiting hundreds of Orthodox priests in Moldova to become a tool of Russian propaganda ahead of the parliamentary elections.

On 26 September, the Central Election Commission of Moldova decided to withdraw the right-wing party Moldova Mare («Greater Moldova») from the elections. The party is headed by Victoria Furtune, who had previously called for the annexation of part of Odesa region.