Transnistria. Rear base from Russia to Ukraine
(BRUSSELS2 - in Tiraspol) “ Russian soldiers installed in Transnistria could cross the Ukrainian border if necessary says Vladimir Yastrebchak, former Transnistrian Foreign Minister from 2008 to 2012 whom we met in Tiraspol. Transnistria, a self-proclaimed independent state, between Moldova and Ukraine, is indeed a strategic rear base for Russia. It concentrates Russian military and arms stocks as close as possible to the Ukrainian border. A strategic issue for Russia, which retains an iron fist and considerable influence over this small territory of 4 m000.
Maintain peace
1500 Russian soldiers are stationed on Transdniestrian territory. They are about "700" in the tripartite peacekeeping mission, where Russia plays a leading role alongside the Ukrainians and Moldovans. They are present on all the Transdniestrian borders. But " their number has been decreasing since 1998 says Vladimir Yastrebchak.
Keep weapon stocks
Task groups are also deployed to guard arms depots in the village of Cobastna, in the Ribnita district, just two kilometers from the Ukrainian border. " The amount of such ammunition is large enough to supply the army says the former Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Some ammunition dates a bit, however, from 1940”. Formerly guarded by the 14th Soviet army, they are today by the Russian military.
(Loreline Merelle)
