"Transnistria Seeks Russian Protection, Raising Concerns for Moldova"

Pro-Russian officials in Transnistria have appealed to Moscow for "protection" amid concerns that Russia could use the breakaway Moldovan region to open a new front in the south-west, in the direction of Odesa. The US is closely monitoring the situation, while Moldova's pro-European government dismisses the appeal as a propaganda event. Tensions have surged around the separatist region following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Moldova's president emphasizing her country's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Transnistrian conflict. The call for help from Moscow has raised concerns about the potential for Russian intervention in the region.