Chisinau Declares Entire OGRF Command Persona Non Grata

Moldovan authorities, announced by parliament speaker Igor Grosu on April 17, declared the full command of the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF) in Transnistria persona non grata, including commander Dmitry Zelenkov, deputies Dmitry Opalev, Sergey Mashenko and Sergey Shirshov, chief of staff Marat Yarulin, and Alexei Bogomolov. The move, citing the force's "illegal presence" on Moldovan territory, restricts the officers to Transnistria — any attempt to leave the region risks expulsion and a permanent entry ban. Shoigu later cited the measure as evidence Moldova was trying to "squeeze out" the Russian contingent.