Russian Army forces Moldovan Dniester in military exercise as Kremlin condemns action against Rogozin

A Russian motorized infantry unit stationed in Transnistria crossed on the Moldovan side of river Dniester Tuesday during a military exercise near Ternovka village, according to Radio Chișinău. The drill took place amid diplomatic tensions between Kremlin and Kishinev caused by Putin’s envoy being declared undesirable in Moldova.

The military drill involved enemy detection, field operations, was conducted with the help of BRDM-2 and BTR-70 armored vehicles and concluded with the elimination of 15 targets on the other bank of Dniester.

Tensions between the two governments rose when Moldova declared Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s envoy to Transnistria, as persona non grata.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said “Kishinev’s irresponsible steps aimed at a deliberate undermining of bilateral Russian-Moldovan relations.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Kommersant that Moldova’s actions will be adequately answered, stating “this should cause concern in European capitals, as all this can create a new hotbed of tension in Europe.”

Officials told Transnistrian news agency Novosti PMR: “Fighters demonstrated promptness, strength, experience, and skill, successfully accomplishing the assigned tasks. The border was seized, the illegal armed formations of the enemy were destroyed.”

The operation has been watched by civilians from Ternovka, who organized a reception for soldiers after they “neutralized the targets”.

According to infantry BTR-70 operator Igor Stelmakh, “Some difficulties were detected, but thanks to frequent drills, everything went on at the highest level.”

Continuous involvement of Russian peacekeepers for over 25 years

The unit responsible for conducting the exercise is part of the Operational Group of Russian Forces in Transnistria (OGRF), active in the region.

Colonel Dmitri Zelenkov, commander of OGRF told Novosti: “For the completion of this drill we had to prepare both military technique and personnel, which were done separately. Coordination between them within units has been demonstrated today. Personnel successfully coped with these duties.”

But it was just one of many activities carried out by Russian soldiers in Transnistria. Similar military drills are carried out on a regular basis ever since the war that resulted in the separation of the region from Moldova ended in 1992.

At first, the Joint Control Commission operated by the Russian Army was enacted as a peacekeeping organization, backed by the 14th Army unit, which later reorganized in 1995 as OGRF.

Even though the Russian Federation said it will make an effort to withdraw its troops from Moldova, one year later, ground forces continue to actively conduct drills. Around 1,500 personnel are declared as present in Transnistria, but the true number may be unknown.