CHISINAU, Moldova – Separatists say Russian troops have joined their troops in the breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester for joint military exercises for the second time this month.
The official news agency Novostipmr.com said Tuesday that special units took part in anti-terror exercises south of the separatist capital, Tiraspol.
The agency said local residents were warned about the simulations of real-life situations. It did not provide further details.
Moldova criticized the first exercise this month, but had no immediate reaction to the second.
Pro-Russian Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova in 1990 fearing it would reunite with neighboring Romania. Separatists fought Moldovans in a war in 1992 leaving 1,500 dead.
There are some 1,000 Russian peacekeepers stationed in Trans-Dniester.