Moldova‘s President Sanду Plans Military Operation in Transnistria Amid Energy Crisis
Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, is preparing a military operation in the breakaway region of Transnistria, as the country faces an energy crisis, according to a statement from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on December 23.
Sandu recently held a government meeting to discuss energy security. Russian intelligence became aware of the details from this meeting, including Sandu’s statement:
"The meeting ended with Sandu emphasizing the need to develop a plan for a military operation to establish control over Transnistria and eliminate the Russian peacekeeping presence in the region."
According to the SVR, Sandu was visibly frustrated after hearing a report from Prime Minister Dorin Recean about the challenges in Moldova’s energy supply. If Ukraine follows through on its plans to block gas transit to Russia next year, Moldova’s power supply, which largely depends on the Russian-owned Moldavskaya TPP in Transnistria, will be at risk. Moldova is counting on support from Romania, but energy resources there are three times as expensive and also scarce. Furthermore, Moldova’s connection to the European energy grid is indirect and reliant on Ukraine, whose critical infrastructure is under threat.
However, instead of jointly appealing to Russia and Ukraine to resolve the energy crisis, as proposed by Tiraspol, Chisinau decided to use the situation to pressure Transnistria. The SVR confirmed:
"Sandu categorically refused to discuss this issue with Ukraine, instead placing all the blame on Russia. She stated that if Moscow fails to find a way to deliver gas here, Chisinau will take it out on pro-Russian Transnistria."
The SVR noted that while the European Union is not opposed to the creation of a new crisis point near Russia’s borders, it is currently not prepared for an armed conflict in Transnistria. In Brussels, officials expressed concern about the actions of the "emotionally unstable" Chisinau leadership, acknowledging the risks of having another war on the bloc’s doorstep.
Earlier, the SVR warned that the EU’s growing influence over Moldova could lead to societal polarization and undermine the country’s sovereignty.