Report: Russia Likely Conducted False Flag Attack on Moldova

A breakaway region of Moldova reported a grenade attack on a government building Monday in what was likely a false flag operation conducted by Russian forces, according to a report.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, D.C., think tank, said on Monday that the likely false flag attack involved “unknown forces” using two grenade launchers to strike the Ministry of State Security building in Transnistria, a region of Moldova along the Ukrainian border that has been controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 1992. The grenade attack was followed by reports of an explosion on Tuesday at a Russian TV and radio tower in Transnistria. False flag attacks and recent claims by Russian officials of the “oppression” of Russian speakers in Moldova may be used as a pretext by the Kremlin to move forces into the region or recruit Moldovans to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The Moldovan President Maia Sandu called for a meeting of the country’s Supreme Security Council on Tuesday because of the recent uptick in attacks in Transnistria.

MOLDOVA CLAIMS RUSSIAN FORCES TRYING TO RECRUIT ITS CITIZENS

“Russian forces likely conducted a false flag attack in Transnistria (Russia’s illegally occupied territory in Moldova), but Transnistrian forces remain unlikely to enter unsupported actions in Ukraine,” the Institute for the Study of War said in their Monday report.

The grenade attack was reported by the Transnistrian Internal Affairs Ministry, part of the separatist government, but not the Moldovan government, according to the report. Ukrainian intelligence believes the attack was orchestrated by Russia’s FSB to incite “panic and anti-Ukrainian sentiment” in Transnistria.

“Transnistrian officials stated the attack was ‘an attempt to sow panic and fear in Transnistria.’ The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) claimed the attack was organized by Russia’s FSB ‘to instill panic and anti-Ukrainian sentiment’ and that the FSB will carry out further provocations in Transnistria,” the ISW said, noting that it cannot independently confirm these claims.

In what could be further provocations by Russian forces in Transnistria, a large antenna used to broadcast Russian radio was reportedly knocked down after an explosion on Tuesday, according to reports. There were no immediate reports of injuries and the cause of the explosion is unknown.

After two days of attacks in the region, long lines of cars were seen exiting Transnistria on Tuesday and heading for the Moldovan capital of Chisinau.

Last week, a Russian commander claimed that Moscow seeks “full control” of southern Ukraine and a point of access into Transnistria, where he alleged Russian speakers were being oppressed.

“Control over the south of Ukraine is another connection to Transnistria, where there is also evidence of oppression of the Russian-speaking language,” senior Russian Cmdr. Rustam Minnekayev said.

Similar rhetoric was used by Russian officials to justify the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, and Moldova has accused Russia of meddling in Transnistria since the invasion.

In March, the Moldovan government announced it was monitoring reports that Russian soldiers were present in Transnistria. The Kremlin has denied any troop deployment there.

Moldova has also accused the Kremlin of trying to recruit citizens in Transnistria to join the war effort in Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

“Such actions do not promote peace for all of us, our fellow citizens, for our families. Such things are very dangerous, and they must be stopped,” Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said of the recruitment claims.

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Most countries in the United Nations recognize Transnistria as part of Moldova, and most residents of the breakaway region are Moldovan citizens.

Moldova submitted its application to join the European Union last month, beginning a process to join the 27-country bloc that typically takes years.