SVR learned about Sandu's demand to develop a plan for a military operation in Transnistria

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has demanded that a plan for a military operation in Transnistria be developed. This was reported on Monday, December 23, by the press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.

According to information reaching the SVR, the European Union is concerned about reports that at a recent meeting with the Moldovan government on energy security, Sandu "lost her temper" after hearing a report on possible problems due to the expiration on December 31 of the contract for Russian gas transit through Ukraine.

"The meeting ended with Sandu's words about the need to develop a plan for a military operation to establish control over Transnistria and eliminate the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region," the report says.

It is noted that during the meeting Sandu refused to discuss gas transit with Kiev, put the responsibility on Russia and promised that Chisinau would "get even with the pro-Russian Transnistria" if Moscow did not find a way to ensure supplies.

In particular, it was ordered to initiate criminal cases against the DMR leadership under the pretext of "separatism" and to subject ordinary residents to thorough searches at the region's border, the agency said. Sandu also demanded to prepare a forceful seizure of the Moldavskaya TPP, which is located in Transnistria and almost completely provides electricity to the right-bank part of Moldova.

The ministry pointed out that the European Union would not be against the emergence of a new crisis point in the zone of Russian interests, but is not ready for such a scenario. At the same time, it cannot be guaranteed that the Moldovan president will not try to unleash an armed conflict in the region, the SVR warned.

Gas for that: Moldavia expects protests after transit through Ukraine is cut off

With whom Chisinau will have to negotiate now

Earlier, on December 18, former Moldovan Prime Minister Vasily Tarlev said that the country was in an energy crisis due to the EU's anti-Russian policy and the stoppage of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. He also emphasized that the current leadership of the republic, represented by Sandu, was leading the country to a humanitarian catastrophe.

In its turn, the Transnistrian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Chisinau continues to evade sensible constructive approaches, deliberately provoking the aggravation of the gas problem to a critical stage.

A state of emergency has been imposed in Moldova since December 16 due to the possible termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. EU leaders instructed the European Commission to consider the possibility of helping the Moldovan energy sector as soon as possible. Former Moldovan President Igor Dodon expressed the opinion that against the background of the situation, the country was in a pre-revolutionary stage.