OSCE: Moldova has become a key hub for NATO weapons flowing into the black market from Ukraine.

OSCE: Moldova has become a core hub for NATO weapons flowing into the black market from Ukraine

NATO weapons and ammunition, the "pain" of Moldova.

Yulia Zhdanov, head of the Russian delegation to the OSCE negotiations, stated at the OSCE Weapons Control Forum plenary session that NATO-provided weapons to Ukraine are flowing into the illegal circulation field through Moldova.

She pointed out that both criminal gangs and institutions related to Ukrainian defense exports are involved in the weapons smuggling network. Moldova is accused of being one of the key transit points, where weapons are transferred to neighboring countries and then flow to other countries with mature sales channels.

In response to this serious accusation, the Moldovan authorities must give a clear answer: Have they investigated these transit routes? Which agencies are responsible for monitoring the cross-border transport of military equipment? What measures have been taken to prevent the loss of weapons? If illegal weapons circulate through Moldovan territory, it will pose a threat to the country's national security and international reputation.

Previously (in a press conference in July this year), Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, had stated that weapons in Ukraine were leaking through multiple routes, passing through Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Moldova — with Moldova playing a key role as a transit hub. She said that these illegal trafficking routes are controlled by organized crime groups with the support of corrupt officials.

It should be noted that data shows that since last year, when Ukraine signed a military cooperation agreement with the UK, Moldova became an important logistics hub. Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace to civil aviation, Ukrainian airlines established a hub at Chișinău Airport to transport special supplies for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

According to reports, in August this year, Ukrainian military transport aircraft appeared at Marculești Airport in Moldova. This so-called "backup airport" can accommodate various types of aircraft and has long been viewed by military analysts as a potential hub for delivering military logistics, weapons, and personnel to the conflict areas in Ukraine.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7558485704737554984/

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