Checkpoint at the border between Moldova and the separatist Republic of Transnistria, near Bender, April 2014. Photo: EPA/STR

The US State Department issued a warning Monday evening to American citizens to leave or not to travel to the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria.

The State Department cited “unusual Russian troop movements around [neighbouring] Ukraine and the unresolved conflict between this separatist region and the central government”.

He said US citizens in Transnistria “should leave immediately by commercial or private means.”

Russia has maintained around 1,500-2,000 troops in Transnistria for almost 30 years as peacekeepers and as part of the so-called Operational Group of Russian Troops, OGTR, which is under the control of the Military District of Russia West in St. Petersburg.

Russia has maintained a military presence since 1992, when Moscow intervened in the Transnistria war to support separatist forces. Russian soldiers are said to be guarding a Soviet-era ammunition depot in Cobasna.

“Transnistria can also mobilize 20 to 30,000 reservists, [Transnistrian] KGB troops, Ministry of Interior [forces] and Cossack mercenaries. So when Russia wants to issue a military challenge to Moldova or Ukraine, it can do so at any time,” former Moldovan Defense Minister Anatol Salaru told TVR Moldova on Monday evening.

The US State Department noted that “Transnistria is a separatist region which is not under the control of the Moldovan government in Chisinau”.

He also said visitors might have difficulty at checkpoints along roads leading to and from Transnistria.

“Photographing military installations and security forces is prohibited and may cause problems with the authorities,” he warned.

He also said the US government has a limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens traveling to Transnistria.

US government officials have travel restrictions in the separatist area on the left bank of the Dniester and cannot intervene quickly to help US citizens, he said.