The Moldovan National Army has started exercises on the border with Transnistria

17 December, 2023 Piranha IIIH armored personnel carriers. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova The Moldovan National Army has started exercises at the border with the so-called "Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic."

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova reported on this. The training will take place between December 17 and 22 at the training center located in the border village of Bulboaca. One of the most capable units of the Moldovan army, the 22nd Peacekeeping Battalion, will be involved in the exercise.

The training will take place in accordance with the National Army Training Plan for 2023.

Army HMMWV off-road vehicles. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova

Photos of the exercise released by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova capture new Piranha IIIH armored personnel carriers and HMMWV off-road vehicles. On November 15, Militarnyi reported that Moldova had received the last batch of Piranha IIIH armored personnel carriers from Germany.

The supply of 19 armored personnel carriers was completed to modernize the armored vehicle fleet of the Moldovan National Army. The modernization of the fleet of armored vehicles was executed on the basis of an agreement signed between the defense ministries of the two countries in October 2022 during the visit of the then-German Defense Minister to Chisinau.

Piranha IIIH armored personnel carriers. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova

Previously, the Moldovan National Army received assistance from the European Union within the European Peace Fund (EPF) program. The assistance is aimed at strengthening the country's defense capabilities by providing the military with medical, engineering, logistics, tactical equipment, communications, aerial surveillance, command and control, mobility, and cyber defense.

22nd Peacekeeping Battalion

The 22nd Peacekeeping Battalion is a component of the Moldovan National Army, which is actively involved in peacekeeping operations and humanitarian missions around the world.

The battalion's soldiers have participated in international exercises in various countries such as Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United States.

Illustration photo of soldiers of the 22nd Battalion.

Photo from open sources

In addition, the battalion participated in UN operations in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan, and South Sudan.