Experts assess the threat of UAVs in Transnistria

The Russian contingent in Transnistria has intensified its work on unmanned systems. About this in the commentary LIGA.net said Oleksiy Melnyk, military analyst at the Razumkov Center.

"Recently, there was information that they also started working on the development of UAVs. It's hard to say whether this is a tribute to the trends of modern warfare or preparation for provocations from Transnistria. We need to keep an eye on this," he said.

Any changes in the behavior of the Russian contingent in Transnistria should be taken seriously, confirmed LIGA.net a serviceman of the 413th Regiment "Reid" and a weapons expert at Defense Express. This enclave was supposed to master the trend of unmanned technology development, which significantly increases the risk of provocations in the region, he noted.

"The Russian group in the region has 10,000 bayonets. Western analysts are inclined to believe that this grouping is combat-ready. They may have up to 100 T-64 and T-72 tanks on their balance sheet. The nuance is that Moldova has no tanks at all. If the Russians decide to abandon hybrid scenarios and want to switch to forceful methods, their provocations may achieve some success here," he says.

At the same time, according to Melnyk, Ukrainian Bessarabia, which borders Transnistria, could become an additional element of deterrence for the Russian contingent.

"In the end, if we say that Western deterrence forces will be deployed in Ukraine outside the combat zone, then the south of Odesa region may become one of these places of presence," said the Razumkov Center representative.

• on June 13, 2025, the President of Moldova confirmed the information about the risk of deploying additional Russian troops in unrecognized Transnistria.
• In July, she stated that real negotiations of the Russian Federation with Ukraine could pave the way for the withdrawal of troops from Transnistria.