Moscow Threatens Moldova With Military Response Over Actions in Transnistria Following New Passport Decree

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova threatened Moldova with an immediate response to any actions targeting Russian citizens living in the breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian troops have remained since their deployment in 1992 among the territory’s approximately 350,000 residents.

The warning follows a May 15 decree issued by Vladimir Putin that simplifies the Russian passport acquisition process for individuals living in the unrecognized state, according to The Moscow Times.

Additionally, on May 20, the Russian Federation Council finalized legislation allowing the Kremlin to deploy the military abroad to protect Russian nationals facing legal actions or detention by foreign courts not recognized by Moscow.

"Any aggression against our fellow citizens living in Transnistria will receive an immediate and adequate response," Zakharova stated during a press briefing, adding that Moscow is prepared to use "all necessary means" to ensure the safety of the local population.

The Russian government stated that the fast-track passport policy was motivated by the protection of human rights and freedoms. Moldovan President Maia Sandu rejected this explanation, stating that the Kremlin is attempting to carry out a hidden mobilization of the local population to boost its forces in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Sandu also stated that Moscow is using the passport policy to exert political pressure on Chisinau as Moldova moves forward with plans to reintegrate the region.

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According to Sandu, a large majority of the 350,000 residents in the unrecognized territory have actively chosen to obtain Moldovan passports since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, viewing them as a safer alternative to Russian citizenship.

The new Russian legal amendments alter the national laws on citizenship and defense, explicitly granting the presidency the authority to use armed forces beyond Russian borders.

The territory of Transnistria remains heavily dependent on Moscow both economically and politically, functioning as an unrecognized state within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova.

On May 15, 2026, Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying the process for residents of the unrecognized Transnistria region to acquire Russian citizenship.

The official document, published on the state legal information portal, granted fast-track eligibility to foreign citizens or stateless persons aged 18 and older who permanently resided in the breakaway territory.

Under these new regulations, applicants from the region, which has hosted approximately 1,500 Russian troops since the 1992 ceasefire, were exempted from standard legal requirements, such as the five-year residency rule, Russian language proficiency demonstrations, and mandatory exams on Russian history and law.

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