Moldova

Given its geographical proximity to Ukraine, and the high number of Ukrainian citizens living in the Transnistria, the de-facto authorities of the breakaway Moldovan region have sought to remain neutral in the ongoing conflict.

But, despite the best efforts of its separatist leaders, it appears that the war in Ukraine may have finally spread to Transnistria.

President Maia Sandu said after a meeting of Moldova's Supreme Security Council on Tuesday that explosions in Transnistria for two days in a row "show that there are tensions between various forces" that are interested in destabilising the breakaway region, where Russian troops have been based since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Transnistrian Interior Ministry, a Russian-backed separatist territory in the former Soviet republic of Moldova, said two blasts were aimed at a radio center near the Ukrainian border.

"Early in the morning of April 26, two explosions were heard in the village of Mayak in the Grigoriopol district," a statement from the separatist republic's interior ministry said.

By establishing control over southern Ukraine, Russia will secure "another route" to Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian troops have been based since the collapse of the Soviet Union, a senior Russian military commander was quoted as saying on Friday.

Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration summoned the Russian ambassador, Oleg Vasnetsov, on Thursday after Moldova received a series of threats from Moscow officials following its decision to ban Russian symbols of the invasion in Ukraine.

This was stated today by the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, after Moldova banned the broadcasting of Russian television channels, but also that the Russian St. George's Ribbon is banned from showing publicly.

Moldovagaz said on Tuesday it had asked Russian energy giant Gazprom, which holds a 64 per cent stake in the company, for more time to conduct an audit of historical debts beyond a May 1 deadline amid fears of a cut-off in gas supplies.

Experts say Moldovan authorities can and should act more forcefully to counter Russian propaganda concerning the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Authorities in Moldova vowed on Monday to do everything necessary to track down and punish those who scrawled symbols of support for Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine on a cemetery for World War Two Romanian soldiers.

Pro-Russian politicians in Moldova on Friday denounced a ban on symbols backing Russia's attack on Ukraine, such as the letters "V" and "Z", as well as the "St George" black-and-orange ribbon, adopted by parliament on Thursday evening.