Separatists say Moldova wants to use Ukrainian soldiers to plan attacks

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova's pro-Russian separatist Transdniestria region accused central authorities in the ex-Soviet state on Friday of training Ukrainian soldiers to launch attacks on the rebel area's institutions and leaders.

Moldova's pro-European government, which denounces Russia's war in Ukraine, immediately denied the allegation.

Transdniestria split from Moldova before the 1991 Soviet collapse and fought a brief war against the newly independent state lying between Ukraine and Romania.

The separatist enclave has existed side by side with Moldova on its eastern fringe for the past 30 years with little turmoil or violence.

But tension has risen since the new year. Transdniestria, which receives hefty financial help from Moscow and has no international recognition, has denounced the imposition by Moldova's government of import-export duties it says will cripple its businesses.

The State Security Ministry in Transdniestria said more than 60 soldiers, most with experience in the war in Ukraine, were being trained by foreign specialists for the purpose of launching attacks on the separatist region.

"They are being trained to carry out terrorist attacks on the territory of Transdniestria," the ministry said in a statement. "At issue are infrastructure sites, attacks on military posts and the abduction and killing of leaders and security officials in the region."

Mariana Sari, a senior official in Moldova's "reintegration bureau" dealing with the region, said the statement was "a provocation strictly for propaganda purposes."

Authorities in the region this week reported an exchange of fire on its border with Ukraine, with two of its residents taken away. Ukraine said it knew nothing about the incident.

Authorities in Transdniestria have previously accused Ukraine of plotting to assassinate its leaders, allegations similarly denied in Kyiv.

International attempts to negotiate an end to Moldova's separatist standoff, led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have made no progress for decades.

But separatist leaders announced on Thursday that the region's foreign minister would hold a rare meeting next week with a senior Moldovan official and OSCE representatives.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas in Chisinau, Editing by Ron Popeski and Matthew Lewis)

By Alexander Tanas