Moldova expels Russian garrison commander

Moldova has declared the commander of Russia's military garrison in the breakaway region of Transnistria and several other officers persona non grata. The individuals have been banned from entering the country and are subject to permanent expulsion. This diplomatic move comes amid heightened regional tensions, with US intelligence reportedly indicating that Moldova is on a list of former Soviet territories Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to reclaim. The expulsion directly targets the Russian military presence that has been stationed in Transnistria since the 1990s.