A television channel in Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region is reporting that shots have been fired near one of its border crossings with Ukraine.
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The report on May 5, which comes after several similar alleged incidents in Moscow-backed Transdniester since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, could not be independently verified.
On its Telegram channel, the TSV channel cited a source in Transdniester's security forces as saying the alleged incident occurred close to the Pervomaysk-Cuciurgan border crossing in southern Transdniester.
"The residents of Pervomaysk (on the Transdniester side of the border) reported shots fired in the vicinity of the Kuchurhan checkpoint (on the Ukrainian side). A source in law enforcement reported that indeed indiscriminate shooting was under way on Ukrainian territory," TSV’s Telegram channel reported.
Images circulated on social media last week apparently showed massive concrete blocks being installed on the Ukrainian side of the border apparently to prevent access into Ukraine from Transdniester.
Transdniester last week claimed that explosions hit the security ministry, a military unit, and a Russian-owned radio tower while shots had been allegedly fired at a village housing a Russian arms depot, which Moscow called "acts of terrorism."
Ukraine has said Russia wants to destabilize the region to create a pretext for a military intervention.
SEE ALSO: First Ukraine, Now Moldova? Is The Kremlin About To Expand Its War?Russia-backed Transdniester, a narrow strip of land between Moldova proper and Ukraine, declared independence from Chisinau in 1990 and the two sides fought a brief war in 1992 that was quelled by Russian troops intervening on the side of separatists.
Russia still maintains some 1,500 soldiers in Transdniester who are said to be guarding a huge Soviet-era arms depot.
Besides the troops ostensibly guarding the depot, Russia has another 400-500 soldiers in Transdniester that have been labeled as peacekeepers since the end of the 1992 war.
Fears of a spillover from the Ukraine conflict grew after a Russian general said Moscow's invasion had the goal of creating a land corridor through southern Ukrainian territory to Transdniester.
The European Union pledged to boost military aid to Moldova on May 4.
"This year we plan to significantly increase our support to Moldova by providing its armed forces with additional military equipment," European Council President Charles Michel told a press conference with Moldova's President Maia Sandu during a visit to Chisinau on May 4. He gave no further details.
Michel also pledged support for Moldova against cyberattacks and disinformation, adding that avoiding escalation in Transdniester was of critical importance.