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| The toppled Pridnestrovian radio centre antennas, also known as “Grigoriopol transmitter” in Moldova’s self-proclaimed separatist Transdniestria region handout Transdniestrian Interior Ministry/Handout via REUTERS |
Two explosions damaged Soviet-era radio masts that broadcast Russian radio from a village in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniestria on Tuesday, prompting Moldovaโs president to convene an urgent security meeting.
Later in the morning, the Moldovan Security Council reported a third incident at a military unit near the city of Tiraspol. The Council described it as a terrorist attack.
The Moldovan authorities are sensitive to any sign of growing tensions in Transdniestria, an unrecognised Moscow-backed sliver of land bordering southwestern Ukraine, especially since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Russia has had troops permanently based in Transdniestria since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kyiv fears the region could be used as a launch pad for new attacks on Ukraine.
โIn the early morning of April 26, two explosions occurred in the village of Maiac, Grigoriopol district: the first at 6:40 and the second at 7:05,โ Transdniestriaโs interior ministry said.
No residents were hurt, but two radio antennae that broadcast Russian radio were knocked out, it said.
The explosions followed blasts a number of blasts that local television reported on Monday hit Transdniestriaโs the ministry of state security in the regional capital, Tiraspol. Local officials said the building had been fired on by unknown assailants with grenade launchers.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Tuesday called for a meeting of the countryโs Supreme Security Council in response to the incidents.
โThe Supreme Security Council will meet from 1300 (1000 GMT) at the Presidency. After the meeting, at 1500, President Maia Sandu will hold a press briefingโ, the presidentโs press office said in a statement.
On Monday, the Moldovan government said the Tiraspol blasts were aimed at creating tensions in a region it had no control of.
Last week, a senior Russian military official said the second phase of what Russia calls its โspecial military operationโ included a plan to take full control of southern Ukraine and improve its access to Transdniestria.
REUTERS
