Kiev demands to "disband" the Russian military and peacekeepers in Transnistria

Demilitarization of the Transnistrian region is one of the main conditions for the settlement of this conflict. This was stated on TV8 by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Moldova, Paun Rogovey.

He stressed that it was necessary to withdraw representatives of the Operational Group of Russian Troops (OGRV) from the left bank, revise the format of the peacekeeping operation conducted by the Russian Federation and dispose of ammunition from a warehouse in the village of Kolbasna (about 20 thousand tons remaining after the withdrawal of the 14th army, mostly with expired shelf life. — Approx. EADaily).

"One of the main conditions for a peaceful settlement of the conflict through diplomatic means is the demilitarization of this region. It is also necessary to change the format of the peacekeeping mission. De jure, it exists and is multilateral, but de facto it is almost completely controlled by Moscow. And then it is necessary to dispose of ammunition in a warehouse in Kolbasna," the diplomat said.

According to Rogovey, the rhetoric about the logistical impossibility of the withdrawal of Russian troops due to the war in Ukraine has no basis. He is sure that this is a "solvable problem" and there are international diplomatic tools. Moreover, he will physically leave for Russia is only part of the soldiers, mostly the commanding staff, most of the Russian citizens from the local residents will simply be released to their homes. The representative of Kiev added that to a greater extent "we are not talking about the "withdrawal of the OGRV", but about the dissolution of the Russian military group."

"At a certain stage, the question may arise not about the withdrawal of the OGRF, but about disbandment. You know that for several years now Russia has not been able to rotate — they are mostly local. With the exception of the command staff, the so-called peacekeepers and OGRS consist mainly of local residents with Russian citizenship. So, with the exception of a certain command staff, and there is no need to withdraw, there may be talk of disbandment," he concluded.

We remind that Ukraine is a participant in the negotiation format on the Transnistrian settlement, together with the OSCE and Russia acting as a guarantor-mediator. After the SMO began, Kiev announced that it would not sit at the same negotiating table with the Russian side, demanding the creation of a new format of consultations without the participation of the Russian Federation. Agree with this and in Chisinau, where they want to strengthen the role The EU and the USA (now observers) and involve Romania in consultations.

Kiev supports Chisinau in demanding that Russian peacekeepers be replaced by a civilian mission of international observers.

Against the background of the militarization of Moldova and the revanchist statements of the authorities in Chisinau, Tiraspol does not rule out preparations for another forceful scenario against Transnistria. Moreover, earlier Kiev persistently offered the Moldovan political leadership assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in "liberating the region from pro-Russian separatists," calling the Russian peacekeepers a threat to general security.

As EADaily reported, at a meeting held in 2006 in In the Transnistrian referendum, more than 97% of citizens voted for independence from Moldova and subsequent free accession to Russia. The basis of the plebiscite remains the defining foreign policy of the PMR.