Russia warns Moldova over Transnistria

Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu has issued a stark warning to Moldova, comparing its measures against the Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria to Ukraine's treatment of Donbas before 2014. In an interview this week, Shoigu threatened Russian intervention to 'protect' the approximately 220,000 Russian passport holders in the region. The statement represents a significant escalation in Moscow's rhetoric toward Chisinau and echoes justifications used for past military interventions in neighboring states. This comes amid heightened tensions in Eastern Europe and ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine.