Blasts hit ministry in separatist Transnistria, near Ukraine

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Police in the Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria say several explosions believed to be caused by rocket-propelled grenades have hit the Ministry of State Security building. No injuries were immediately reported in the alleged attack, which came on the Orthodox Easter Monday holiday. The separatists’ Interior Ministry said some of the building’s windows were broken and that smoke was coming out from it. Transnistria is a strip of land with 470,000 people between Moldova and Ukraine. It has been under the control of separatist authorities since a 1992 war. Russia bases about 1,500 troops, calling them peacekeepers. But concerns are high that the Russian forces could be used to invade Ukraine from the west.