Transnistria

From the BBC’s Breaking News:

“Where is Transnistria and why does it matter?”

Mysterious explosions in Transnistria, a breakaway Russian-controlled territory in Moldova, have raised fears that the Ukraine conflict may be spreading. Russia has about 1,500 troops based in Transnistria, which borders on Ukraine and broke away from Moldova in a brief war in 1992. If Russia reinforces Transnistria it could enable its forces to move on Odesa - a strategically important port city - from the west. Its push on the city from the east was blocked by Ukrainian troops. On Friday, a top Russian general, Rustam Minnekayev, said "control over the south of Ukraine is another way out to Transnistria, where there are also cases of oppression of the Russian-speaking population". President Vladimir Putin has pledged to “protect” ethnic Russians in ex-Soviet republics. That was his argument for invading Ukraine. Moldova was formerly Soviet Moldavia. Moldova is not in Nato or the EU. It is one of Europe’s poorest countries and home to many ethnic Ukrainians.

^ As I said from the beginning Putin will not stop at Ukraine and that’s why the world needs to stand-up to him. ^