Ukraine Must Seek Real Threats to Security Within Itself: Rogozin

MOSCOW, December 13 (Sputnik) — Ukraine must search for real threats to the country's security within itself, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Saturday in response to Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak’s statements that Ukraine is threatened not only from the west, but also from the south.

“Poltorak talks about a dual threat, but the real threat to their security is not on the west, and not on the east. They should search for it in themselves,” Rogozin wrote on his Twitter.

Poltorak, speaking in the parliament on Friday, said that a decision was being worked on to increase the number of troops in the southeastern areas to protect Ukrainian territory as there was a "threat from the eastern border" and "threat from Transnistria" in the south.

Russian Defense Ministry public council member Igor Korotchenko commented on Poltorak’s statements, saying that his claims have nothing to do with reality.

Transnistria is a breakaway republic between Moldova and Ukraine, which has close ties with the Russian Federation.

In 1992, Transnistria declared its independence from Moldova in a move, which led to armed hostilities and Moldova’s subsequent loss of control over the region following a failed crackdown. The region is now seeking international recognition, while Moldova offers Transnistria autonomy within a unitary state.

After the end of violence, Russia, Moldova and Transnistria’s representatives established a tripartite peacekeeping force in the breakaway republic. According to the Transnistrian data, there are currently 402 Russian, 492 Transnistrian and 355 Moldovan servicemen, as well as 10 Ukrainian military observers keeping peace in the conflict zone.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it not a party to the Ukrainian internal conflict, adding that Moscow would like to see Ukraine overcome political and economical crises.