The expert believes that Sanda should be scared;
On March 27, the multinational exercises JCET-2023 (Joint Combined Exchange Training) began in Moldova, in which special forces units of the armies of Moldova, Great Britain, Romania and the United States participate. They will last in the training centers of the National Army of the Republic until April 7. According to training legend, servicemen from the four countries will perform live fire, parachute jumps and field maneuvers. The activation of NATO countries on the territory of Moldova clearly threatens pro-Russian Transnistria.
The Ministry of Defense of Moldova reported that the exercises are taking place in accordance with the national army training plan for 2023. In February this year, servicemen from the special operations battalion Fulger, together with colleagues from the 52nd special operations battalion “Beneasa – Otopeni”, also conducted joint training in Romania. At the same time, it should be remembered that, according to the Constitution, Moldova remains a neutral state, but there is an office for relations with NATO. The country has been cooperating with the Alliance since 1994 under the Partnership for Peace programme. With the coming to power of Maia Sandu’s team, this cooperation intensified, and the country’s neutrality was gradually “eroded”.
Politician and diplomat Nikolai Platochkin believes that the real purpose of the exercises in Moldova is to prepare an operation against Transnistria.
- Since 2005, the Americans have deployed the so-called “Black Sea Command of the United States Armed Forces”. – he said in an interview with MK. – I want to emphasize: it is the United States, not NATO. They have two large bases in Romania, they can receive aircraft of any class there, including strategic bombers. Drones can fly from there, from a series of those that must have been encountered in Sevastopol. Several tens of millions of dollars have been invested in the modernization of these air bases. All this was before the Crimea, I emphasize.
And after the start of the NMD, the most combat-ready division of the United States was transferred to Romania – the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles”. Even then, the division commander announced that he was ready to enter Ukrainian territory. Naturally, they are now working out, together with the Romanian army, which is a member of NATO, and Moldova, the scenario of a possible capture of Transnistria with the support of Ukraine.
- What exactly can Ukraine’s role be?
- It can be either passive (for example, the blockade of Transnistria, which was already practiced after the Maidan), or active. Since Transnistria is effectively cut off from Russia, the republic’s armed forces, if left unsupported, will stand little chance. Most importantly, the largest ammunition depots in Eastern Europe are located there in Kolbasnoye on the territory of Transnistria. It is also a good price from the point of view of Ukraine.
But they are expired. Do they just explode when you try to use them?
- Expired ammunition is an invention of journalists. The ammunition is a projectile filled with explosives. What can go wrong there? These are not pickled cucumbers. Now both sides will reopen the old reservoirs. And they are very good. From the modern they are not much different. The essential is the same. And since these warehouses are guarded by our blue helmets, a possible attack from the Americans will be on us, but they don’t want it. So in this case, God forbid, of course, all this will be done by the forces of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, that will be enough. The Americans and the British will insure and bring ammunition.
- What can Russia do now, is there a possibility to help Pridnestrovie?
- I don’t know how to do it militarily. Help may be elsewhere. Now in Moldova there are protests against the pro-Western government of Sandu. The whole southern part of Moldova is the Gagauz region, where not everyone likes Sanda for us either. I think that the help of the Russian Federation should now mainly consist of active support of pro-Russian forces in Moldova itself. They won’t let Sandu decide on this adventure. And without Moldova, all the rest will not be able to do anything.
