How real is the possibility of uniting the occupied corridor of Crimea with the separatist region Transnistria from Putin's army

The scenario regarding the union of the occupied corridor of Crimea with the Transnistria separatist region is impossible at this time, being launched by the Kremlin to especially scare the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, said for “Adevărul” Anatol Şalaru, former Minister of Defense from Chisinau.

Salaru said that the union of the occupied corridor of Crimea with Transnistria is impossible. Photo: AFP

Russia could prepare a new offensive on the regions of Kharkiv, Sumî and Zaporojie, said the president of the Council of Reservists of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ivan Timoșko.

And the major of the armed forces of Ukraine Valerii Prozapas said that the Russian federation plans an offensive on Zaporojiei, Herson, Nicolaev and Odesei, the key objective being the union of the Crimea Crimea in Ukraine with the Transnistria from the Republic of Moldova.

“The Russians I prepare bridge heads for the offensive, including in the direction of Zaporojie. We need to understand this clearly. Zaporojie is one of the strategic cities for them, although, of course, not as a priority as the Odessa Directorate. Because their main strategic objective is to unite the corridor of Crimea occupied with Transnistria, capturing Herson, Nikolaiev and Odessa ”, he pointed out.

The old dream of the Kremlin

“Adevărul” spoke about the scenario of the union of the occupied corridor of Crimea with the separatist region Transnistria with the former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Moldova, Anatol Şalaru.

Anatol Şalaru stated that, by launching this impossible scenario regarding the union of the occupied corridor with the Transnistria separatist region, the induction of the panic is sought in both the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

“This is an old dream of Russia since 2014, to create the so-called Novorosia, which also includes Odessa, and the south of Bessarabia, and Transnistria and, in fact, would have gone to where others would have stopped. But today it is a plan that Russia launches to intimidate Ukraine, to scare Ukrainian citizens, in particular, those in Moldova. But, in reality, he has nothing in common with the situation on the front, because anyone who wants to be informed are looking at the map and sees where Russia from Crimea could reach Odessa or Tiraspol. There are two ways. The third, the aerial one, is excluded. Have no ability to land. They do not have the ability to cross Ukraine's airspace. The maritime path, today, the Black Sea is controlled by Ukraine due to the Magura drones they have, maritime drones that destroyed helicopters, brought down planes, not only military ships, but also any descent that would start from Novorosisk or Kerci or from any part of Crimea to Odessa or South Basarabia. They are intercepted, because they need more time to reach, not only 4-6 hours, probably even more than a day or two. Russia lost 30-40% of the maritime fleet in the Black Sea, including descent ships. And how much can I carry? For example, I can send 10 ships with 20,000 or 30,000 people. Of these, I do not think that one reaches one at the Black Sea coast. If they come out on the ground, then there is even bigger the problem, because for this they should occupy big cities, which have practically 1 million inhabitants, such as Nikolaiev, Zaporojie or Dnipro, cities that stand in the way of the Russian army. Let us remember that it took almost a year to occupy Bahmut, a city with 40-50 thousand inhabitants, who are now completely destroyed ”, said Anatol Şalaru.

The former Moldovan Minister of Defense stressed that Russia has no military capacity, but only an information propaganda capacity, which tries to intimidate the world.

“It would be a solution, theoretically, to reach Voznesensk, in the Odessa region, to land about 10,000 military or at least 5,000, to bypass Odessa in order not to meet with the Ukrainian army and to reach Tiraspol. But it is a story of science fiction ”, added Anatol Șalaru.

Europe, the target of Putin

Asked if this scenario could become possible if Kiev will not be supported by the West, the former Minister of Defense in Chisinau, Anatol Şalaru, has rejected this hypothesis, saying that Europe will continue to help Ukraine, being aware that it is the target of Putin's army.

“Europe will not cease to help Ukraine, because it understands that it is actually target and not a mere observer. Europe understands that Russia threatens it directly, and from the latest statements it has understood that European aid will increase for Ukraine. Europe is preparing for a possible war with Russia, allocating huge amounts for the military industry and developing new technologies. Including the Republic of Moldova will be helped in this regard. The United States helps a lot with rockets for Patriot systems and other anti-aircraft systems. Today's war is no longer three years ago, when it was dominated by artillery, tanks and armored. Ukraine withdrew from the first line tanks, because the average survival duration is very short. Today is the war of drones. 85% of Russia's recent losses are due to drones. It is an anti -dorride war with me. Artillery and tanks are no longer as important. Rockets and aviation matters. Drones are critical. This year, Ukraine will produce up to 5 million drones. The European Union has decided to allocate between 800-900 billion euros for defense capabilities, and much of the money goes to researching drones and new technologies that can cancel the classic technologies. Modern war does not mean direct confrontations between armed. The military stays 60-80 km from the first line and control the drones. There are drones for evacuating the wounded, for coordinating long -range missiles, for supervision. The Magura drones, the Ukrainian maritime, practically reduced the importance of the Russian maritime fleet in the Black Sea. Ukraine received help from the US worth $ 123 billion – not 350, as Trump says, no 500, as some say. And this year, Ukraine will produce 35 billion armament, almost as it received in 3 years. The help from the European Union is crucial, especially if it manages to compensate for Musk's lack with its own technologies and replace Patriot systems with some European ”, he said.

War of wear

As for American support, Anatol Salaru excludes the possibility of America stop him because he would be perceived as traitor or even complicit with Russia. Anatol Sălaru points out that the US prefers a war of wear in Ukraine to avoid Russia's breakdown, considering that a stable regime is easier to control than an unpredictable one.

“The US has always wanted a war of wear, long -lasting Ukraine, without giving Ukraine to win the war immediately. Probably, they are very afraid of breaking Russia and that's why they try to slow Ukraine. A war of wear would lead to the weakening of Russia and they would like some changes, but peacefully and slowly in Russia. They are afraid that a possible victory of Ukraine would lead to the fall of Putin's regime and they think that if it is not Putin, another can come worse because we know that there are some very aggressive, very radical and very anti-Western. Probably Russia will reach the hands of some worse than little. That has been always if you look in history: you will see that the US have often saved. The USSR, since the 1920s, when they were starving, they sent them help, and industrialized it: all the big factories and hydroelectric plants on the big rivers are built by Americans, starting with the tractors and ending with planes and trucks, and tanks. All this is done by the US. Whenever it needed they helped, including in the 90s when the Russians were starving. Sent humanitarian help. The US wants Russia to remain in the form in which it is today, not to dismantle, they think it is better a regime with which we negotiate, to understand, to be predictable than something unpredictable. In addition, for Trump it is important to have Putin alloy in his commercial war and not just commercial against China. The US said their sole enemy is China and everyone allies against China wants. And Ukraine is so … they also bring a sacrifice on behalf of the US bright future. But Trump overestimated Ukraine and the EU, and overestimated Putin. Putin does not have the ability to occupy Ukraine and does not have the ability to move on. And the EU has shown that it can make quick decisions. Economic and military aid will continue and will be even bigger than before. The EU can replace the American help. The American military industry will produce, and Europe can buy and transmit further Ukraine ”, concluded the former Moldovan Minister of Defense, Anatol Şalaru.