Moldova has designated the command of the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF) stationed in Transnistria as undesirable persons. The decision includes a ban on entry and stay in the country for a number of officials, according to TV8.md.
The list includes OGRF commander Dmitry Zelenkov and his deputies — Dmitry Opalev, Sergey Mashenko, and Sergey Shirshov. Similar restrictions were imposed on Chief of Staff Marat Yarulin and Alexey Bogomolov.
The measure effectively blocks their movement and envisions expulsion if they attempt to enter Moldovan territory, followed by a permanent entry ban.
OGRF as legacy of Soviet 14th Army
The Operational Group of Russian Forces was formed from the remnants of the Soviet 14th Army. During the Dniester conflict, its units supported separatist forces.
Meanwhile, US intelligence officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine and ultimately restore control over parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet empire, including Moldova.
Today, the contingent is estimated at around 1,200 troops. For years, Chișinău has consistently demanded their full withdrawal and the removal of ammunition, calling their presence a violation of national sovereignty.
Long-running dispute over Transnistria’s status
Trending Now
The presence of Russian troops remains a major point of tension in Moldova–Russia relations. Chișinău considers the contingent illegal and a threat to its state control over its territory.
Earlier, Moldova took a formal step toward leaving the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States or CIS, with President Maia Sandu signing decrees to withdraw from the bloc’s founding agreements.
The CIS is a loose regional grouping created after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, bringing together several former Soviet republics. The bloc has long been criticized as a Russia-dominated structure with limited practical integration.
