Is Russia now trying to take control of Moldova?
Ukraine warns - and monitors the movement of Kadyrov troops in the earthquake area in Turkey.
Chisinau - Moldova has feared a Russian invasion as part of the Ukraine war for months.
However, the situation now seems to be getting worse.
A drastic warning is now coming from Ukraine: According to this, a danger emanates above all from Chechen fighters who are currently being deployed in the earthquake area in Turkey.
Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Council for Security and Defense in Ukraine, put this thesis on the record.
According to the Ukrainian newspaper
Pravda
, Danilov says on Ukrainian television that some groups under the command of Chechen leader Kadyrov are now being deployed as emergency workers in the earthquake areas in Turkey.
They had previously fought in the Ukraine war.
Moldova in Russia's sights?
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"Russia really wants it (Moldova, ed.) to burn again to have a point of tension that we should pay maximum attention to," Danilov said.
The fact that Chechen fighters are now being deployed in Turkey is being closely monitored, the Ukrainian continued.
This is to ensure that they “do not end up in Chisinau”.
Russia, in particular, is fighting for influence in the country located between EU member Romania and Ukraine.
For example, Moscow controls the Transnistria region, which had broken away from Moldova - and has also stationed troops there.
The West accuses Russia of wanting to destabilize the situation in the impoverished agricultural country that is striving to join the EU.
Many Ukrainian refugees live in Moldova.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently accused Russia of wanting to take control of Moldova.
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Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov with soldiers.
(archive image)
© IMAGO/Yelena Afonina/Tass
Pro-European Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita handed in her resignation on Friday.
The 45-year-old announced on Friday in the capital Chisinau that after a year and a half in the post of prime minister it was time to resign.
Pro-Western President Maia Sandu accepted the request.
Moldova government resigns - the day before, the secret service warned of Russian influence
The government under Gavrilita has been under pressure for months due to massive increases in energy and food prices.
Pro-Russian ex-President Igor Dodon said the leadership was overwhelmed and plunged Moldova into a deep crisis.
As a representative of the opposition, he called for early parliamentary elections.
On Thursday, the country's secret service warned that Russia was planning to destabilize Moldova.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously stated that Kyiv had uncovered a corresponding plan by Moscow.
Moldova had previously accused Russia of arms and human trafficking and financing anti-government protests.
Moldova as a destination for Russia?
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian state-owned company Gazprom drastically reduced its gas supplies.
In addition, massive power outages occurred in Moldova after Russian air raids on Ukrainian energy plants.
Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures
Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures
Due to its geographical location and economic dependency, Moldova fears Russian influence.
This concern is exacerbated by the presence of Russian troops in the breakaway region of Transnistria on the border with Ukraine.
In a new series of attacks on Ukraine, a Russian missile also flew over Moldova on Friday.
Moldova's foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador because of the "unacceptable" airspace violation.
Most recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused President Sandu of seeking unification with Romania.
He accused the West of wanting to turn Moldova, like Ukraine, into another “anti-Russia”.
Because of the pro-Western course of the government in Chisinau, relations with Moscow are heavily strained.
Traditionally, the country gets gas from Russia, while the huge empire mainly imports agricultural products from Moldova.
(rjs/afp)
List of rubrics: © IMAGO/Yelena Afonina/Tass
