Chisinau expels a Russian diplomat over the downing of a Russian missile in the country. Will relations between Moldova and Russia worsen?
A Russian missile shot down by a Ukrainian air defense system fell on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The projectile was supposed to hit the Dniester hydroelectric power station, located 25 km from the border with Moldova.
The Ministry of Defense of a neighboring country immediately sent sappers to the site. The air surveillance systems of the Moldovan army did not detect illegal flights, and the Ministry of Defense statement noted that the fragments of the downed missile were not detected by radar stations due to their size.
At the same time, the fact that the fragments of a Russian missile fell on the territory of a neighboring country was the first during the full-scale invasion of the Russian army in Ukraine. Moldova expelled a Russian diplomat over the incident and did not declare a threat to the country’s security. Can the situation escalate or will Chisinau remain quiet?
Sluggish response Moldova
In a public reaction, the Moldovan Interior Ministry condemned the Russian missile attack on Ukraine and Russia’s use of energy resources as a weapon: “These strikes, which further worsen the security situation, are constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law that prohibits the targeting of civilians and their infrastructure.(.. .) Attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure cause massive economic and social damage to the entire continent of Europe, including the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who are feeling the consequences of the war in their neighborhood,” the report said.
Later, the Russian ambassador in Chisinau, Oleg Vasnetsov, was declared persona non grata and must leave Moldova.
“Rocket strikes in neighboring states continue to increase security risks, and citizens (of Moldova – ed.) are increasingly suffering from the devastating consequences of war,” the statement said.
Currently, the Moldovan police ordered to monitor the border space of Ukraine alone, and the law enforcement officers of Otaci and Ocnita are working in a special mode. Also, the number of border police patrols in the green strip, located on the border with Ukraine, in the Naslavchi region, has increased.
Ukraine called for stabilization
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the fall of fragments of a Russian missile on the territory of Moldova should be another reason for international unification in the fight against the Russian Federation.
“Each new Russian strike on our civilian targets only facilitates and brings closer the international consensus on the responsibility of Russia. And the fragments of the Russian missile that fell on the territory of Moldova only remind how important the collective defend against this evil – from racism, which does not recognize either state borders or human values,” said the president.
The spokesman of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuri Ignat, said that Russia used Moldova’s airspace to attack Ukraine and that this was not the first time. This is a crime and should be officially documented in order to provide an assessment from the international community, Ignat believes.
“… this is not the first time that they have fired missiles at Moldova in Ukraine, in the west, in the southwest, this is not the first time that we have recorded the continuous appearance of UAVs there 5-10 km from Romanian. border, that is, an operational-tactical level UAV so provoke NATO countries,” said the spokesman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Silence of Chisinau
Moldova will not go into direct confrontation with Moscow, believes Russian journalist and human rights activist Mark Feigin. The situation between the two countries will be stable.
Also, according to him, the Russian Federation itself cannot retaliate against Chisinau. This option will be possible if they managed to capture Ukraine. Then the Russians will go from Odessa to Transnistria and beyond, the expert added.
“Now starting a large-scale military operation against Moldova is a suicidal idea for Russia… The Kremlin has 3,000 Russian soldiers from Transnistria, but they will not dare to attack Moldova. Romania will receive the legendary 101st Airborne Division of the United States,” said Feygin in a commentary on the 24 TV channel.
“They will not play. If necessary, they will destroy these 3,000 Russian troops; there (in Pridnestrovie – ed.) from Odessa, there will be nothing left of these 3 thousand,” said Feigin.
The human rights activist also believes that Moscow will not be able to establish control over Moldova with the help of its “pocket” party Shor, based on the Russian-speaking population.
“Moldova has no army, so they react weakly and maneuver. They are afraid to enter into a direct confrontation with Moscow. And expelling the Russian ambassador is a minimal measure that other civilized states regularly use against Russia,” said by Feigin.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.