NAF commander doubts a repeat of Crimea scenario in Transnistria

  • 2023-03-23
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - National Armed Forces (NAF) Commander Leonids Kalnins does not believe that the Crimean scenario can be implemented in Transnistria as well, in order to divide Ukrainian forces.

In an interview with LETA, Kalnins said that there are small Russian forces in Transnistria - 10,000 or 15,000 soldiers, although with ambitious unit names.

"They cannot significantly influence the attraction of the Ukrainians, nor the events in Moldova. Therefore, I am rather reserved on this matter. Rather, Russia is the one more likely worried about the situation, because there are huge warehouses with ammunition in Transnistria," said Kalnins.

If we are talking about "tying up" Ukrainian units so that they cannot be moved to the south and east, then the border of Belarus is a much bigger problem, the NAF commander said.

At the same time, he pointed out that the full involvement of Belarus in the war is an unplayed card. Russia can try to play this card, find the right lever to put pressure on the Belarusian regime. "Maybe they are waiting for some kind of situation when they could use it. But Belarus is currently the one that has tied up considerable forces of Ukraine in the northwest of the country," added the NAF commander.