Ukraine blocked Transnistria again
Ukraine closed checkpoints on the border with Transnistria for 2 days after opening them on May 29.
This was reported by the First Pridnestrovian TV channel, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“We turned to the Ukrainian side through political and diplomatic channels with a request to provide clarification and explain how this mechanism works and what to expect for the residents of Pridnestrovie, including citizens of Ukraine who are on our territory. We were assured that the checkpoints will be opened soon,” said Transnistrian Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev.
The reasons for closing the border are not reported, but in Pridnestrovie they are sure that Moldova is behind this, which used the month of quarantine to strengthen the blockade of the republic.
After this checkpoint was closed due to anti-epidemic measures, Moldova constantly detained medical equipment and medicines, reagents for testing for COVID-19, components for ventilators, and computer equipment for organizing distance learning for schoolchildren at the border.
In January, the Moldovan government postponed from February 1 to August 1 the introduction of the “second phase” of joint customs and border control with Ukraine at the Kuchurgan checkpoint in the Odessa region, through which 70% of Transnistrian imports from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine pass. There are 13 checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Transnistrian border, 6 of which have been manned by Moldovan border guards since 2017. Chisinau and Kyiv planned to establish joint patrols at 10 checkpoints.
Ukraine has again blocked Transnistria.