All EU states back opening formal accession talks with Ukraine after Hungary deal

"All 27 EU member states have given the green light to open the first cluster of accession

negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on June 4 after an agreement between Kyiv and Budapest cleared the key hurdle.
"We are one step closer to the EU membership: steadily moving towards our goal," the prime minister said.
Svyrydenko's statement followed Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar's announcement on June 3 that Ukraine and Hungary had reached an agreement on the rights of the country's Hungarian-speaking minority, prompting EU officials to confirm that the next stage in the EU accession process will proceed in mid-June." KI

Trump thanks Lukashenko after release of foreign political prisoners

"According to the U.S. president, two Moldovan citizens and three Poles, including Andrzej Poczobut, were released. Polish President Karol Nawrocki asked Trump to help secure Poczobut’s release from a Belarusian prison, the U.S. leader said.

“We worked very hard to make this release happen … Today Poczobut is free thanks to our efforts. The United States helps its allies and friends. Thank you to President Alexander Lukashenko for the cooperation and friendship. So nice!” Trump wrote.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Minsk with a delegation led by U.S. special envoy John Cole. After the meeting, Lukashenko said the United States had proposed a deal to him “on various issues.” It later emerged that Belarus had released 250 political prisoners.
Trump later thanked Lukashenko for releasing more than 500 political prisoners and said he was “looking forward” to meeting him at the Peace Council." msn

Russian strike on Ukraine hydropower plant spills oil into Dniester River, threatening Moldova's water supply

"Moldova declared a 15-day environmental alert in the Dniester (Nistru) River basin after oil contamination linked to a Russian strike on Ukraine's Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant threatened the country's water supply.
"Russia's attack on Ukraine’s Novodnistrovsk hydropower plant has spilled oil into the Nistru River, threatening Moldova's water supply," President Maia Sandu said on March 15, adding that authorities had declared an environmental alert and were taking measures to protect residents.

Government analyses found that levels of petroleum products and aromatic hydrocarbons in the water exceeded permitted safety limits, prompting emergency measures.
Officials said authorities will install additional containment barriers at the Dubasari reservoir to prevent the spread of pollutants and will inventory water wells that could be used as alternative sources if needed.
The government also warned that restrictions on water extraction and use may be imposed in areas where contamination levels remain high.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said the government's "primary objective is the protection of public health," urging citizens to rely only on official information as authorities monitor the situation and coordinate with international teams deployed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism." KI

Technical failure causes simultaneous blackouts in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine

"A technical malfunction occurred between the power grids of Romania, Moldova, and

Ukraine, resulting in a simultaneous power outage.
According to Ukrinform, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal reported this on Telegram.
"Today at 10:42 a.m., a technical failure occurred, causing a simultaneous shutdown of the 400 kV line between the power systems of Romania and Moldova and the 750 kV line between the western and central parts of Ukraine. This caused a cascade shutdown in Ukraine's power grid and triggered automatic protection mechanisms at substations. Nuclear power plant units were unloaded," Shmyhal said." Ukrin

Russian missiles 'rain down' in Kyiv

"A barrage of at least 22 Russian missiles targeted Ukraine

overnight, with at least one striking
the capital, Kyiv, in what the Ukrainian minister of energy called a massive attack on energy infrastructure.
Russia also fired overnight at least 460 drones, several of which flew into either Moldova or Romania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said early on Tuesday." msn

Moldova’s election marred by fraud

"Moldova’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, in which the pro-EU PAS party narrowly secured a majority, were marred by blatant “fraud” and manipulations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

The PAS party, led by pro-Western President Maia Sandu, secured 50.2% of the vote, with the opposition parties narrowly trailing behind with 49.8%. The Patriotic Electoral Bloc alliance, which advocates for closer ties with Russia and constitutional neutrality, came second with 24.2%.
The voting, however, was marred by uneven access to voting. Only two polling stations were opened in Russia, despite the country hosting one of the largest Moldovan diaspora communities in the world, which numbers up to 500,000 people. As a result, only around 4,100 votes were counted in Russia. Meanwhile, dozens of polling stations were opened in Italy – where the Moldovan diaspora tends to be more pro-EU – enabling tens of thousands to submit ballots.
Speaking to reporters after the Valdai Club discussion forum on Tuesday, Lavrov suggested that the elections are another milestone in turning the ex-Soviet state into an anti-Russia foothold." RT

French, German, Polish leaders to visit Moldova amid fears of Russian election interference

"The leaders of France, Germany, and Poland are set to visit Moldova  to demonstrate support ahead of the start of the parliamentary election campaign, AFP reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are expected to meet with Moldovan President Maia Sandu as Moldova marks the 34th anniversary of its independence.
The visit comes amid what the Moldovan presidency described as Russia ramping up its "interference activities ahead of the high-stakes elections" scheduled for September." KI

Elected? That’s cute. Now go to jail

"The drawn-out political struggle between Moldova’s central authorities and the elected leadership of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia reached its apogee when the leader of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, was sentenced to seven years in prison for “illegal financing” the Euroskeptic SOR Party. The verdict didn’t surprise those who have been closely monitoring the situation in Moldova over the past two years. It was the inevitable next step in President Maia Sandu’s campaign to eliminate all political rivals – especially those whose authority extends beyond the grasp of Chisinau and its overseer, Brussels.

Sandu has never concealed her disdain for Gutsul. As early as November 2023, she declared that she would not sign a decree to include Gutsul in the national government, citing supposed ties to a “criminal group.” No evidence was ever presented. In fact, international observers confirmed the transparency and legitimacy of the elections in Gagauzia. But that did not stop the crackdown.
It is abundantly clear that Gutsul’s imprisonment is politically motivated. The administration seeks to sideline her from public life, discredit her, and erase her name from public memory in Gagauzia and beyond. The seven-year sentence is not just about one woman. It is a signal, a warning, a political message: Any challenge to centralized authority will be met with brutal repression.
Of course, the problem isn’t just Sandu’s personal dislike of Gutsul. Gagauzia may be small, but it is geopolitically significant. It is an autonomous entity with legislative and executive powers, granted through a historic compromise in 1994 brokered with the involvement of Russia and Turkey. 

Gagauzia remains a living reminder of Moldova’s multiethnic character – and of alternative centers of power within the state.
Strategically, the region borders Ukraine’s Odessa Region and lies near Danube ports that serve as logistical arteries for military cargo moving from Romania and the EU toward the Ukrainian front. In this context, Gagauzia’s political sympathies leaning toward Moscow and her pursuit of balanced relations with Russia are viewed by Chisinau as a threat – not just to internal cohesion but to Moldova’s broader alignment with NATO and the EU."

 RT

Russia seeks to deploy 10,000 troops to Transnistria

"Russia aims to deploy 10,000 troops to Transnistria and install a pro-Kremlin government in

Moldova to enable it, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean told the Financial Times in an interview.
“They want to consolidate their military presence in the Transnistrian region,” Recean said, adding that Russia’s goal is to increase leverage not only near Ukraine’s southwest but also close to NATO member Romania.
Although Russia has maintained a limited military presence in Transnistria since the 1990s, only 1,000-1,500 troops remain today." KI

Moldovan officials say about massive Russian interference in elections

"Moldovan authorities are seeing massive interference by Russia in the country's runoff vote for the presidency. Channel 5 reports that in a number of European countries, the computer system at polling stations is not working. Voting continues, but voter data is entered manually. Moldova has appealed to several EU countries with a warning that Russia will try to disrupt voting by Moldovan expatriates at polling stations abroad in Sunday's presidential election." Ukrin

US troops arrived in Moldova with military aid

"On May 18, a C-17 aircraft of the North Carolina Air National Guard, US, arrived at Chisinau Airport to support Exercise PEACE SHIELD, according to the US Embassy in Moldova.

35 servicemen from the North Carolina National Guard and US Air Forces in Europe will practice emergency response tactics necessary for the safety of Moldovan citizens." MS

NATO’s largest naval exercise commences in Romania with 12 allies

"Sea Shield 24, NATO’s largest multinational naval exercise, commenced in Romania, involving over 2,200 military personnel and 135 ships, aircraft, and vehicles from 12 Allies. Troops and military equipment from Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, the United States and Romania are taking part in the exercises." UP

Kamikaze Drone Attacks Military Unit in Transnistria

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may attempt to “escalate” his way out of his current struggles on the battlefield by expanding the conflict to a third country.
A kamikaze drone attacked a military unit in Transnistria, a defacto independent republic, on

Friday and caused minor damage to a radar station, the region’s State Security Ministry said.
"Today at 14:35 [11:35 am GMT], a kamikaze drone attacked the Tranisntiran Defense Ministry’s military unit in the Ribnita district, six kilometers [3.7 miles] from the Transnistrian-Ukrainian border. The target was a radar station that sustained minor damage, there are no casualties," the ministry said, adding that a criminal case has been launched.
Sleboda speculated an attack on the pro-Russia region could provide an opportunity for the Ukrainian leader to overcome his struggles in the Donbass. Moldova recently launched a drone attack on Transnistria, and the analyst suggested that attacks on Russian landing ships may be intended to stymie the country’s efforts to respond to potential Ukrainian aggression in the region." Sputnik

Romanian and US soldiers begin JCET 2024 military excercises in Moldova

"Multinational JCET-2024 military exercises have commenced in Moldova, with military personnel from Romania and the United States taking part. The training will run from April 1 to April 19, according to the Ministry of Defense of Moldova. Moldova's Information and Security Service, Alexandru Mustiață, said that Russia had prepared plans to destabilize the situation within Moldova. Specifically, Moscow aims to interfere in Moldova's presidential elections and disrupt the referendum on the country's European integration.

Mustiață specified that there was a record level of activity by Russian special services in Moldova in 2023.
Recently, the so-called Transnistrian Moldovan Republic appealed to Russia for "protection from Moldova."" MS

Leader of restive Moldova region tells Putin local rights being crushed

"The pro-Russian leader of Moldova's restive Gagauzia region told Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the country's central authorities were systematically crushing her region's political and economic rights.
Gagauzia, in Moldova's south, is increasingly at odds with Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu over the election last year of Eugenia Gutul as "bashkan", or leader. Gutul has close ties to fugitive pro-Russian businessman Ilan Shor.
Sandu is seeking European Union membership for her country and identifies Russia as the biggest threat to its sovereignty.
Gutul has been in Russia since last week, when she asked the head of parliament's upper house for support for her region.
"I told (Putin) about the illegal actions of Moldova's authorities who are taking revenge on us for our civic positions and for standing by our national interests," Gutul wrote on Telegram alongside a photo of her shaking hands with Putin.
"Chisinau is taking away our rights step by step, limiting the budget, violating our legal rights provoking instability and destabilization in Gagauzia and throughout the country." MS

Regular Ukrainians resist dying for elites as army struggles

"Even if you're missing a leg, they'll say you can still fly drones," complained a draft-eligible

man who fled Ukraine. He expressed frustration over corruption, noting that average Ukrainians are fighting and dying while the "members of parliament" and other elites "drive Mercedes and luxury cars". Ukraine is faced with a shortage of soldiers as many seek to avoid deployment. At least 25 men drowned whilst attempting to cross the Tisa river, which separates Ukraine from Moldova and Romania. Men have hidden in secret compartments in vehicles. They've impersonated clergy and even disguised themselves as women to slip past border checkpoints," said Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the Main Command of Ukraine's State Border Guard. One transport company employee earned money by employing draft-aged men as truck drivers, who subsequently vanished across the border with Poland." essanews

Moldova back to purchasing diesel fuel from Russia

"Moldova has resumed the import of diesel fuel from Russia, even though in the first quarter of this year, Chisinau did not purchase it from Moscow." MS

Men flee Ukraine to avoid the military drafts. The numbers are out

"Ukrainian men are going to great lengths, including swimming across rivers and feigningillness, to avoid being drafted into military service amidst the conflict with Russia. BBC journalists have determined the number of men who have left the country to evade conscription. As one man argues, "we're not all fighters." Post-Russian invasion, it's important to remember that men between 18 and 60 were generally prohibited from leaving the country. After requesting information on illegal border crossings from Ukraine into neighboring Romania, Moldova, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, the BBC has ascertained that between February 2022 and August 31, 2023, 19,740 men were smuggled out into these countries." essanews

Romania counters Ukraine’s claim over straying Russian missiles

"Bucharest has denied that Russian missiles flew over Romania, countering Kyiv’s claims that two of Moscow’s rockets crossed the NATO member’s airspace on their way to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said several Russian missiles had flown over Moldova and Romania, and that they were a challenge to the military alliance and collective security....Romania said authorities had detected an “aerial target launched from the Black Sea from a ship of the Russian Federation” but “at no point did it intersect with Romania’s airspace.” AlJazeera

Hero Matsiievskyi executed for saying "Glory to Ukraine!" was Moldovan citizen

"Oleksandr Matsiievskyi, a soldier of the Territorial Defence Forces of Chernihiv Oblast who was executed in Russian captivity, had Moldovan citizenship. 

..... statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova;

"After the Ukrainian side confirmed that the soldier executed by Russian soldiers was Oleksandr Matsiievskyi, we strongly condemn the murder of the Moldovan citizen, which can be qualified as a war crime and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. We express our deep condolences to the family and friends of Oleksandr Matsiievskyi, and we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people." On 12 March 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine established that Oleksandr Matsiievskyi, a sniper of the 163rd Battalion of the 119th Territorial Defence Brigade of Chernihiv Oblast, was the Ukrainian soldier executed after saying "Glory to Ukraine!"Pravada