Russia can't reach a pro-Russian region in Moldova easily — but there are ways it can cause trouble

Moscow is continuing its saber-rattling over the pro-Russian region of Transnistria in Moldova, and analysts are saying that while Russian authorities would find it hard to physically reach the breakaway region to annex it, there are still ways it can stir up pro-Russian unrest — and trouble for Moldova.

Since the separatist self-proclaimed authorities in Transnistria asked for Moscow's "protection" against the Moldovan authorities last week — a move that was widely seen as coordinated with the Kremlin and a possible precursor to Russia beefing up its military presence there, or even annexing the region — the West has been closely watching the rhetoric coming from Moscow.

For its part, Russia's Foreign Ministry said last week that it would carefully consider the request from the Transnistria and its people, whom it called its "compatriots."

Transnistria is in eastern Moldova and lies to the western border of Ukraine. No U.N. country, not even Russia, recognizes Transnistria's sovereignty. All U.N. members consider the region to be part of Moldova, which has expressed a desire to reintegrate the region.  Nonetheless, Russia has had a small military presence in Transnistria since 1992 and says it is conducting a "peacekeeping operation" there, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

Similarly to Ukraine, Moldova has a pro-Western government and wants to join the European Union. It also wants to reintegrate Transnistria, making Moldovan-Russian relations highly tense.

Problematically for Russia, Moldova and Transnistria are landlocked, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine. That would mean that reinforcing its troops in the region would be challenging.

But Russia could still cause trouble, especially as a presidential election