President of Moldova warns Russia intends to deploy 10,000 troops to Transnistria
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has warned that Russia intends to deploy up to 10,000 troops to Transnistria, the Kremlin-controlled territory in eastern Moldova. The statement follows a similar warning issued earlier this week by Prime Minister Dorin Recean, who said the deployment would likely follow only if pro-Russian forces succeed in taking political control in Chisinau.
“If they manage to bring a pro-Russian government to power in Moldova, then yes, this risk becomes real,” Sandu said.
She emphasized that the warning is based on verified intelligence and reflects a broader pattern of Russian behavior in the region.
At present, Russia maintains a force of around 1,500 troops in Transnistria under the guise of “peacekeepers,” a term Moldova has consistently rejected.
These troops operate without Chisinau’s consent and remain stationed in violation of Moldova’s sovereignty and international law. The Kremlin has refused repeated demands for their withdrawal.
An escalation to 10,000 Russian troops would radically shift the military balance in southeastern Europe. It would place a major Russian force west of the Dniester River, directly across the border from Odesa, threatening both Ukraine’s southern front and Moldova’s national stability. It would also strengthen Moscow’s leverage over Moldova’s democratic government and its EU accession process.
Occupation of Transnistria
Russia’s occupation of Transnistria began during the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1990, as Moldova moved toward independence, Moscow deployed forces from the Soviet 14th Army to secure control of territory east of the Dniester River. When Moldova attempted to assert its sovereignty in 1992, Russian troops engaged directly in combat, particularly in the city of Bender. Dozens of Moldovan soldiers were killed. The war ended with a Moscow-brokered ceasefire in July 1992—on terms dictated by Russia.
Since then, Russia has maintained military, political, and economic control over Transnistria. The territory has its own border checkpoints, currency, and Soviet-style institutions—but it is not recognized by any UN member state, including Russia itself. It serves as a militarized buffer zone and a pressure point against both Moldova and Ukraine.
The region also hosts one of Europe’s largest Soviet-era ammunition depots, located in Cobasna. Thousands of tons of unstable munitions remain under Russian guard. The presence of these stockpiles has long been used to justify the continued deployment of Russian troops.
With war raging in Ukraine and Moldova pursuing deeper integration with the European Union, the Kremlin sees Transnistria as a ready-made tool of coercion.
The potential deployment of 10,000 troops is not just a military maneuver. It is a political threat.
As President Sandu made clear, Moscow is using the region to destabilize Moldova from within, relying on elections rather than tanks to open the gates.
Transnistria was never a separatist movement. It was—and remains—a Russian military project. Moldova has not forgotten this, and neither should Europe.
