In the modern world there are not so few unrecognized or partially recognized states. Among them is Transnistria. This is a tiny country with an undefined status, located in the southeastern part of Europe. This article will help you find out which cities belong to Transnistria, and also will tell you a lot of interesting information about them.
Transnistria: a brief essay on an unrecognized state
Transnistria (officially the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic, abbreviated as PMR) is a narrow strip of land between the Dniester and the territory of Ukraine. De jure, these territories belong to Moldova. De facto, here is a self-governing, but not recognized by the international community, republic, which proclaimed its independence in 1990. Today, the situation with the Transnistrian region is classified in European politics as a “frozen conflict”.
The area of modern Transnistria is tiny even in comparison with miniature Moldova (a little over 4000 sq. Km). About 500 thousand people live in the republic (of this number, about 70% are in cities). The ethnic structure of the population is dominated by three peoples: Moldavians, Ukrainians and Russians.
The TMR inherited from the Soviet economy a number of large industrial enterprises. Among them are the Moldavian State District Power Plant, a metallurgical and textile factory, and a cognac factory. The major cities of Transnistria are actively trading with the European Union. True, all products manufactured in the republic are marked with the Made in Moldova sign.
In conclusion of our short story about Transnistria, some interesting facts about this territorial formation:
- PMR is the only country in the world whose flag and coat of arms depict the main Soviet attributes (sickle, hammer and five-pointed star);
- in Transnistria there are embassies of two other unrecognized states - Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
- the cities of Transnistria are distinguished by neatness, grooming and cleanliness, which is often compared with the Belarusian one;
- in the Transnistrian city of Bender, Ivan Mazepa died , here in 1710, another Ukrainian hetman, Philip Orlyk, presented to the public the first constitution in Europe;
- the two largest cities of the republic (Bender and Tiraspol) are connected by one of the few intercity trolleybus lines in Europe with a length of 13 kilometers;
- in Transnistria there are offices of the political party "United Russia";
- the Transnistrian ruble in 2012-2015 was recognized as the strongest currency in the post-Soviet space.
The story of one war
The collapse of the USSR intensified separatist movements and rekindle a whole series of conflicts in different parts of a vast empire. One of these hot spots was the left bank of the Dniester.
In the early 1990s, the conflict between the newly-minted Moldovan authorities and the Transnistrian nomenclature elite escalated significantly. Transnistrians did not want to be part of Moldova, fearing rapprochement with Romania.
The conflict entered a phase of open military confrontation in the spring of 1992. In March, Moldova decided by force to restore its power over the rebellious left bank of the Dniester. However, units of the 14th Russian Army, as well as guardsmen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, acted on the side of the Transnistrians. Therefore, the Moldavians failed to establish control over Transnistria, and the Dniester River very quickly turned into a front line.
The culmination of this war was the battle for the city of Bender. In July 1992, the armed detachments of the Transnistrians, supported by Russian tanks, crossed the Dniester and entrenched in Bender. On the streets of the city, a real massacre began, killing 600 people. After this battle, the parties began to look for ways to resolve the conflict peacefully, and finally signed a peace agreement in Moscow.
In total, about 1,200 people died in the Transnistrian conflict.
Cities of Transnistria
The administrative territory of the PMR is divided into 5 districts. Within the unrecognized state there are 8 cities (they are listed from north to south):
- Kamenka;
- Rybnitsa;
- Dubossary
- Grigoriopol;
- metropolitan Tiraspol;
- Bender
- Slobodzeya;
- The border city of Dniester.
Transnistria also has a number of disputed territories with dual status. These include several villages (Kosnitsa, Pyryta, Dorotskoye, etc.), the Varnitsa microdistrict in Bendery, and the Korzhevo village in Dubossary.
Almost the capital is the city of Tiraspol
Transnistria, like any other country in the world, has its own capital. This is the city of Tiraspol. Although it is very difficult for a person from the post-Soviet space to imagine a capital with a population of 130 thousand people. Nevertheless, “capitalism” is felt here. The quiet, provincial streets of Tiraspol are distinguished by some solidity, and in the massive public buildings you can feel the “spirit of power”, although it is not recognized by anyone.
In Tiraspol are the government and the PMR parliament. In addition, the city is an important historical and cultural center not only of Transnistria, but also of the whole of Moldova.
From the Greek language, the name Tiraspol is translated very simply and clearly - “a city on the Dniester”. It really is located on the left bank of the largest East European river, just six kilometers from the border with Ukraine. The city was founded in 1792. It was at this time that, on the orders of Suvorov, the construction of the fortress began here. In 1806, Tiraspol became a county center as part of the Kherson province, and between the two world wars managed to visit the center of the Moldavian ASSR.
Modern Tiraspol is quite pleasant. Its center pleases with cleanliness, neatness, wide sidewalks, neat flower beds and a large number of rare (Soviet) artifacts.
There are few tourist attractions in the PMR capital. These include the old fortress (late 18th century), the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ (2000), the chic and pompous House of Soviets, built in the 50s. In addition, tourists in Tiraspol love to visit the modern Sheriff sports complex, which covers a huge area of 65 hectares.
Bender is the most tourist city in Transnistria
Very few cities of Transnistria can boast of constant visits of tourists from near and far abroad. Bender is one of those. If travelers decide to go to the PMR, then they definitely visit this city.
The city of Bender is the second largest in size and population in the republic. And the first in the number of historical and architectural monuments. The city center has preserved many beautiful buildings of the XIX-XX centuries. But the main tourist attraction in Bender is an old and beautifully preserved Turkish fortress. By the way, part of the citadel is still occupied by the active military unit.
Along with traditional architectural monuments, there are quite a few “monuments” of the 1992 war in Bender. For example, the walls of the city hall, beaten by fragments of shells, decided not to be restored. Traces of the war can still be seen on its facades today.
Rybnitsa is the industrial center of Transnistria
In the north of the unrecognized country, surrounded by the picturesque hills of the Podolsk Upland, lies the city of Rybnitsa. Transnistria owes its powerful industrial complex to this city in many respects. Rybnitsa provides about half of the revenues to the budget of the PMR, as well as about 60% of the republic’s exports. Over 400 different enterprises operate here.
In terms of tourism, the city is not too noticeable. Among the local attractions are the large-scale Victory Memorial, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael (the largest in the PMR), as well as a magnificent (in terms of historical value) cemetery. Another highlight of Rybnitsa can be called an abandoned cableway (industrial purpose), effectively hovering over the Dniester.
Kamenka is a resort pearl of Transnistria
If the title of tourist mecca of the republic is rightfully owned by Bender, then the city of Kamenka can safely call the "recreational capital" of an unrecognized state. Transnistria can really boast a pretty good resort, which has been known since the 1870s. The city of Kamenka is located in the far north of the PMR, at the confluence of the river of the same name with the Dniester. Unique climatic conditions have formed here: a rocky, almost mountain ridge reliably shelters the city from cold winds, providing the Transnistrian resort with long summers and fairly mild winters.
Only 9 thousand people live in Kamenka. The foundation of the local economy is agriculture and health resorts. The most famous sanatorium “Dniester” in the republic, designed for the simultaneous recovery of 450 people, is operating in the city. And Kamenka is famous for its fragrant and delicious grapes and, accordingly, excellent wine.
Dnestrovsk is the energy heart of the republic
The city of Dniester is located in the extreme south of the PMR, in the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border. It is here that the largest power station in the republic is located. The electricity generated here even goes for export (to Moldova and Ukraine).
By chance, the Moldavskaya State District Power Plant in 1964 was built precisely on the left bank of the river. If this did not happen, the economic independence of the unrecognized republic would now be a big question. Today, about 10 thousand people live in the city. Most of the population of Dniester is working at a local power station.