Russia Warns Armed Provocations Against Transnistria Would Be Treated as an Attack on Russia

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin warned on August 10 that Moscow would regard any armed provocations by Ukraine or Moldovan authorities against Transnistria as an attack on Russia itself, saying such actions would be viewed under international law as an act of aggression prompting a "decisive and prompt" response and that Russia would "use all available means" to protect its personnel, forces and peacekeepers in the region. Galuzin assessed the risk of direct armed provocations as currently low but said it could not be ruled out. The warning followed the August 9 Crocmaz drone explosion and Moldova's decision to recall its ambassador from Moscow, and repeated Russian claims — denied by NATO, which has no troops stationed in Moldova — about Western military buildup in the country.