Armed Forces of Transnistria

Transnistrian BMP-1 at parade in 2010

The Armed Forces of Transnistria are the military units of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic , or PMR for short (Russian: Pridnestrovskaja Moldawskaja Respublika ). It is a de facto stabilized regime located mainly east of the Nistru River within the borders of the Republic of Moldova .

history

In September 1991, the establishment of its own state structures in Transnistria took place. In October 1991, an armistice was concluded between the Republic of Moldova and Transnistria with the mediation of the Russian Supreme Soviet. In December 1991, Transnistrian military units besieged strategic buildings in Bender and Dubăsari and later captured both cities. Transnistria founded its own armed forces in January 1992 and took over parts of the 14th Army of the Red Army stationed in Transnistria . On March 1, 1992, a Moldovan counter-offensive began. Numerous Romanian volunteers fought on the Moldovan side, while Transnistria received support from Russian and partly Ukrainian volunteers and Cossacks . In the middle of 1992 the Moldovan army was up to 30,000 men, faced with around 12,000 Transnistrian militias. Shortly before a planned ceasefire, the Moldovan army unexpectedly launched a new offensive on the city of Bender on June 19. The armed conflict officially ended on July 25, 1992. The Transnistria conflict has not yet been resolved, but is now considered a “ frozen conflict ”. Even today, 1,200–1,400 soldiers of the Russian armed forces are stationed in the country.

Strength

According to estimates by the OSCE from 2009, the armed forces of Transnistria have around 4,000 to 4,500 men with 18 main battle tanks , a considerable number of multiple rocket launchers and several combat zone or transport helicopters. There is a conscription system , but Transnistria can also fall back on additional Cossack and volunteer corps. Some estimates suggest that a total of up to 120,000 men could be mobilized.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 20 лет войне на Днестре: Бендерская трагедия окончательно расколола Молдавию. segodnya.ua. 19 Июня, 2012 ( Memento of the original from June 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ↑ OSCE: De Gucht Discusses Montenegro Referendum, Frozen Conflicts , Radio Free Europe, May 23, 2006
3. ↑ Frozen Conflicts In The Black Sea-South Caucasus Region ( Memento from June 5, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
4. ↑ ^{a b} Karl Penhaul, "To Russia with love? Transnistria, a territory caught in a time warp ” , April 11, 2014, CNN
5. ↑ "Putin Demands Measures To Lift Transdniester 'Blockade'" , Radio Free Liberty, March 31, 2014.
6. ↑ Bernard Aussedat: How can trust and security in Moldova be restored? OSCE Yearbook 2009, URL: [1]

Web links

Commons : Armed Forces of Transnistria  - Collection of images, videos and audio files