The government in Chișinău said it was investigating the alleged incident, with kyiv citing Russian provocation.
Pro-Moscow separatists in Transnistria, a secessionist region of Moldova, say they have foiled an assassination attempt against their leader, whom they accuse of having organized the Ukrainian security services.
Kiev dismissed the charges on Thursday as a “provocation” of the Kremlin in the latest in a series of claims and counterclaims over the territory, which is wedged along Ukraine’s southwestern border with Moldova.
The Moldovan government said it was investigating a suspected “terrorist” attack in Transnistria.
“We don’t have confirmation of these things,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean told reporters. “The government is ready to face provocations.
Russian state news agencies reported the alleged assassination attempt on Vadim Krasnoselsky. It was not immediately clear whether Transdniestrian officials had provided any evidence to support their claim.
“On the instructions of the Ukrainian security services, a crime was being prepared against a number of officials,” Russian news agency TASS said citing the separatists. “The suspects have been arrested.
In response, Ukraine’s Security Service said in a statement: “Lies and provocations are the weapons [Russia] actively use. But today, the whole world sees the true face of the aggressor country and does not believe the statements of Russia or its satellites.
Transnistria, a predominantly Russian-speaking territory, broke away from Moldovan control in 1990, a year before the collapse of the Soviet Union, and depends on Russian support.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, there have been constant fears that the war will spread to Transnistria due to the region’s allegiance to Moscow and its location on Ukraine’s western border.
Last month, Russia accused Ukraine of planning to invade Transnistria after staging a “false flag” operation there, a claim kyiv denies. Moldova also rejected Russia’s request.
Moscow has said it will view any action threatening Russian forces stationed in Transnistria as an attack on itself.
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