Keep an eye on Moldova as well. I think Putin may make a play there, especially for Transnistria.

[Celerity]

How a tiny breakaway state called Transnistria can alter the Ukraine crisis

https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/how-a-tiny-breakaway-state-called-transnistria-can-alter-the-ukraine-crisis-54894

The small unrecognised country is located along Moldova’s eastern border with Ukraine, making Transnistria a crucial location for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Not many have heard about a tiny country called Transnistria, which is a pro-Russian breakaway state from Moldova in Eastern Europe. Its total area is 4,163 square kilometres and hosts a population of 350,000, according to Moldovan estimates. But it carries crucial importance for the world’s second biggest army, Russia, if the country’s President Vladimir Putin decides for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Why?

Transnistria is located along much of Moldova’s eastern border with Ukraine. Moldova, a landlocked Eastern European state between Ukraine and Romania, is located south of Ukraine. In Transnistria, Russia has around 1,500 troops, which is a significant presence considering the breakaway state’s military has around 5,000 soldiers.

Russia has amassed mass troops on the Crimean Peninsula, a southern Ukrainian region with a Black Sea coast, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. Moscow also deployed a significant number of troops in Belarus, a pro-Russian state located north of Ukraine. Eastern borders of Ukraine have been already compromised with heavy Russian military presence. As a result, while it’s a tiny state, Transnistria, located southwest of Ukraine with a 400km-long border line with Kiev, can help Russia put a nearly full military siege over Ukraine from south, north and east.

Transnistria matters

In the case of a full Russian invasion, Moscow can use its military presence in the breakaway state to join its forces between the Crimean Peninsula and Transnistria, cutting Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea coast and effectively rendering it landlocked.



snip

[WarGamer]

1. You're right...

And I just read last night that Russian forces ARE in Moldova.

[sarisataka]

2. Troops in Transnistria could literally walk to Odessa

in about 3 hours or drive in under half an hour. Perhaps in conjunction with an amphibious assault...

[roamer65]

3. Time to seal the Bosporus straits.

No Russian ships in or out.