steve sweeney. thanks very much for breaking that down for us. mold overs. former presidents ego donna who is also the main opposition leader in the country, slammed the current government's policy and has called on the nation to avoid destabilizing the situation in trans mr. this comes as moldova faces political turmoil with thousands of residents, protesting against the government and high energy costs. a particular unlisted told us that mulder was rhetoric is aimed at pleasing. the west and ukraine is made, which is that any issue demilitarization of trans nestor is on the one hand, the official position of just now. but on the other hand, such a declaration in such a tense time causes great resonance because the modern government does not always voice such a position. the fact that they returned to the term demilitarization, which implies the withdraw of the russian peace keeping contingent from trends. nestor is perceived both in moscow and her support as a provocation. this was unexpected and

provocation of the key of regime if one should happen. joining me live now in the studio is our tease, steve sweeney. steve, what can you tell us what we know so far about the situation? well, we just heard the statement from the ministry of foreign affairs with some very strong words. now russia has been warning of this possible provocation in moldova, where of course, it has a true presence in the self proclaimed republic of trans nesbit. now that they say that russia ukrainian saboteurs dressed as russian troops are at ledger, be planning to attack trans nestea to provide a pretext for a ukrainian invasion. intriguing story. now why does it matter though? well, moscow's had a peacekeeping presence for 3 decades following a bitter a 2 year long war between a pro transmission true some pro moldova, and forces that left around a 1000 dead. now this call of course, came towards the end of the or the last years of the soviet union, and many citizens in fans. mr. hold russian passports, it's a majority. russian speaking region declared independence from modo roles. this is not internationally recognize

i'm join now live in the studio, but sees a steve sweeney. steve, thanks for joining those. great, that was what we know so far about these claims. what we've just heard, the statement from the ministry of foreign affairs, with some very strong words. now russia has been warning of a possible provocation in moldova, where a court has a troop presence bikes there in the self proclaimed republic of trans. mr. yeah. and why does it matter? well, russia has had this peacekeeping presence in the region for 3 decades. now this followed a better 2 year long war between promot oven and pro transmission forces that left around $1000.00 debt. this of course, came during the last days of the soviet union. now many citizens in trans nestea hold russian port. it's a russian majority. speaking region, it declared its independence for mold over, but of course, this is not internationally recognized. now russia held broker a piece deal there in 1992. that brought an end to the conflict and it had troops station the ever since. and was the most open response been well mold davis, pro western

and coming days, correspondence, steve sweeney with the details. thank you. earlier we spoke with nelson wong by chairman of the shanghai center for rem pack and international studies. he says, china has no need to use such balloons as surveillance devices. they say is apparently not a pleasant incident, but i don't believe it is wise for anybody to make a big fuss up there because the chinese government has confirmed in the 1st place that this balloon or the ship or exactly what you call it is from china. and china feels regret for its intended entry into u. s. s. space. china has enough satellites already in china. wants to do any surveillance. why should they use the pollutants? which are so big and so obvious. now, i don't think this connection makes any sense. so let's see, i mean, we're all have to watch and see, but whatever the case, i think the wisdom of both countries, leaders and i've all depressed and now put his test. ah, it's been 20 years since the us invasion of iraq. and here at r t, we continue special coverage of the anniversary, examining

so, so a traditional day for russians to say good bye to windsor, as ortiz, steve sweeney reports from one of the festive sites in moscow. lesson isa is a russian festival, which draws on both pagan and christian traditions. over the course of the week, russian families come together for food, for games and other activities. now we're here in the is wide over kremlin in the rushing capital moscow. as you can see, the festivities are underway. we have mummers performing behind me. we have dancers on the stage, and many, many people have come here to join the celebrations. over the course of the day, there will be a full program of events. let's take a look at some of the a, a britain and the way through today's notice pancake day, behaving russia we have pancake week, where sweeten savory stuff. bellini is there called here. are eaten. now behind me, you can see that the pancakes are being prepared. they smell absolutely delicious. the most popular flavor i'm told is read caviar. of course, i'm not just here to observe the making of the pancakes. i'm here to try them as well. here we go

the media is spinning in a frenzy about the incidence that steve sweeney investigates. whether the whole story might actually be a distraction for something much more down to america has turned into a real life version of the x files seeming to be in a collective meltdown or to shooting down a number of unidentified flying objects from its skies over the past week is even had to down play phase of an imminent alien evasion. i just wanted make sure we addressed this from the white house. i know there's been questions and concerns about this, but there is no again, no indication of aliens or extra terrestrial activity. with these recent take downs, washington did it for days before shooting down a chinese weather balloon. yet it now seems to be trigger happy as it bloss any object it sees as a potential threat. but the timing has arouse suspicion coming soon off to pulitzer prize. winning journalist seymour hersh alleged the u. s. blew up the new old string to pipeline. a former u. s. intelligence whistleblower suggest that you f o sightings are often used as a distractio

steve sweeney reports from one of the festive sites in moscow. lisa is a russian festival which rules on both pagan. i'm christian traditions over the course of the week. russian families come together for food, for games and other activities. now which is what over crime in, in the russian capital most go. as you can see, the festivities are underway. we have mama's performing behind me. we have daunted on the stage on many, many people have come here to join the celebrations. over the course of the day, there will be a full program of events. let's take a look at some with with a britain in the way. try choose a zone is pancake day, behave in russia. we have pancake week, where sweeten savory, stuff. blenny is their cold, here are eaten. now behind me you can see that the pancakes are being prepare. they smell absolutely delicious. the most popular flavor i'm told is read caviar. of course, i'm not just here to observe the making of the pancakes. i'm here to try them as well. here we go with the little boy with today. now behind me, you can be

with ortiz, steve sweeney were in russia's north western city of st. petersburg meeting with spartak, a former convict, and wagner fi to whose recently return from the front line in ukraine. can you tell us how you came to join the army for us? was that 1st went to serve in the security force in chechnya in 2002. there were many issues to deal with in the motherland. i served until 2005 and was wounded in a special operation. there were many special operations in chechnya and we were defending a city in the va density region. we had shootouts with arab mercenaries. that's where i was wounded. but in general, there were many what's the difference between the all me back then and today i'm i was shamal abra shudders. we had to rely on ourselves. the army wasn't that strong back then. now we have a strong army. why did you decide to join cutter of forces? but someone was you be with me? my father served i loved my republic and i am proud to be a chechen. i have brothers sisters, my father, and my mother there. oh my family. how could i not join when i was

r t correspondent, steve sweeney sat down with we're in russia's north western city of st. petersburg meeting with spartak, a former convict, and wagner fi to his recently return from the frontline in ukraine. can you tell us how you came to join the army for us? was that 1st went to serve in the security force in chechnya in 2002. there were many issues to deal with in the motherland. i served until 2005 and was wounded in a special operation. there were many special operations in chechnya and we were defending a city in the va density region. we had shootouts with arab mercenaries. that's where i was wounded. but in general, there were many what's the difference between the all me back then. and today, i'm where was shamela brochure this we had to rely on ourselves. the army wasn't that strong. back then. now we have a strong army. why did you decide to join cutter of forces? but some, which was, you mean my father served? i love my republic and i am proud to be a chechen. i have brothers sisters, my father, and my mother there. oh my family, how could i not join when i w

chance to speak to a wagner fighter who just recently completed his contract with the group our to steve sweeney reports. russian private when it she company, wagner. i saw the global prominence partly due to its role in the compet can ukraine. it's force it or played a crucial role in came in at feel for a hint of the russian forty's. take control of many found it. so does have been deploy is sylvia. it livia, on many african companies where they have been welcomed as heroes. but in the west volga is controversial, is accused of war crimes, another atrocity, according to western rhetoric. this is partly because of the policy of recruitment from roches prison population. where in st. petersburg, where we met with spartak, i wagner, commander and former convict, who says that he joined not to be pardon, but to fight for his country. and it almost there wasn't that. i didn't think i would end up in wagner. i signed the papers to go in here, i am. the boss came to our prison. he just made an offer and told everything how it was. the war is brutal. it's not the chechen war. some decided to go and so

let's press life now to our correspondence, steve sweeney. r. this has been the talk for the last few days. could you tell us more about this role between china and the u. s. and the chinese balloon? yes, so finally, after days of deliberation and doubt, u. s. foreign to jets of short term, what they claim is a chinese spy bloom. beijing of course denies this. it says that it was a web whether observation, a balloon. although there is some confusion over whose recommendation it was to to shoot down the balloon. ma'am, that's listen to what you as president joe biden told jan this earlier. and i'm so successful, we took a dow and i want to compliment our aviators or didn't and want more to report on her so a little later because i wanted to say that i know on this, i know the same recommendation from your was fun and that's why i told them to sit down a wednesday. i was like a recommendation to me. let's wait to the safest place to do it. quite an intense reaction from the us president. now, how could this effect already tense relations between c

let's listen to our team correspondent, steve sweeney. in conversation with him. russian private military company wagner has shot a global problem. partly due to road in the conflict and ukraine. it's 4th, it played a crucial role in k military operations, a theme russian 40 take control of many town it. so does have been deploy is syria in libya, and many african countries where they have been welcomed of heroes. but in the west volga is controversial, is accused of war crimes, another authority, according to western rhetoric. this is paul eva called the policy of recruitment from rocket prison population. where in st. petersburg, where we met with spartak, i wagner, commander and former convict, who says that he joined not to be pardon, but to fight for his country. and almost there wasn't money cuz i didn't think i would end up in wagner. i signed the papers to go in here. i am. the boss came to our prison. he just made an offer and told everything how it was. the war was brutal. it's not the chechen war, some decided to go and some di

steve sweeney. russian. father minutes. he company wagner. a shot the global prominence. partly due to his role in the compet can ukraine, it's force you to play the crucial role. in k military operations, the athene russian forties take control of many found it. so does have been deploy is sylvia in livia and many african countries where they have been welcomed as heroes. but in the west volga is controversial, is accused of war crimes, another authority, according to western rhetoric. this is partly because of the policy of recruitment from russia. prism population were in st. petersburg, where we met with spartak, i wagner, commander and former convict, who says that he joined not to be pardon, but to fight for his country. and almost fell in the area, cuz i didn't think i would end up in wagner. i signed the papers to go in here, i am. the boss came to our prison. he just made an offer and told everything how it was. the war was brutal. it's not the chechen war. some decided to go and some didn't. so i decided instantly, i wasn't even thi

steve sweeney. russian. private when it she company, wagner, a shot a global problem, partly due to his road in the conflict and ukraine. it's 4th, it played a crucial role in came in at feel for a his, a think russian forty's take control of many town it. so does have been deploy is sylvia in libya, and many african companies where they have been welcomed as heroes. but in the west volga is controversial, is accused of war crimes, another atrocity, according to western rhetoric. this is connie, because of policy of recruitment from rocky prison population. we're in st. petersburg where we met with spartak, i wagner, commander and former convict, who says that he joined not to be pohden, but to fight for his country. and almost there wasn't money cuz i didn't think i would end up in wagner. i signed the papers to go in here. i am. the boss came to our prison. he just made an offer and told everything how it was. the war is brutal . it's not the chechen war, some decided to go and some didn't. so i decided instantly, i wasn't even thinking about the amnesty. yes, of course. honesty is gr