Moldovan authorities, backed by the European Union, are attempting to push the Russian operational group of troops out of Pridnestrovie, according to Russian Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. In his assessment, these actions point to a deliberate effort by Chisinau to escalate tensions in the region.

Shoigu said that on April 17, Moldova’s General Inspectorate for Migration formally declared the command staff of the Russian operational group in Pridnestrovie undesirable. As a result, he noted, the group’s leadership has effectively been stripped of the legal ability to travel beyond the territory.

He views this move as a clear political signal that the current Moldovan leadership intends to deepen the confrontation. Shoigu warned that any attempt to resolve the situation by force-or to replace Russian peacekeepers with Western contingents-would have serious consequences not only for Moldova but for the wider region. Responsibility for such an outcome, he suggested, would fall on President Maia Sandu and her circle.

At the same time, he expressed hope that events would not follow the most severe сценарий, while reiterating that Moscow has repeatedly cautioned against military solutions to the Pridnestrovie issue.

Shoigu also drew attention to the ammunition depots in Kolbasna, describing them as a major risk factor. He argued that any attempt by Ukraine to seize these stockpiles could lead to significant casualties and a large-scale environmental disaster. Much of the ammunition stored there dates back to the Soviet era, he noted, and has long exceeded its service life, making even minimal handling potentially dangerous.

He added that, if necessary, Russia’s military and political leadership is prepared to use all available means to protect its citizens in Pridnestrovie, in line with the constitution. More than 220,000 Russian citizens live in the unrecognized republic, and their safety, he said, is threatened by what he described as reckless actions by the authorities in Moldova and Ukraine.