In the modern world, there are not so few unrecognized or partially recognized states. Transnistria is one of them. It is a tiny country with an undetermined status, located in the southeastern part of Europe. This article will help you find out which cities belong to Pridnestrovie, as well as tell you a lot of interesting information about them.
Transnistria: a brief essay on the unrecognized state
Transnistria (officially the Pridnestrovian 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, there is a self-governing republic, but not recognized by the world community, which declared 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 compared to miniature Moldova (a little over 4,000 sq. km). About 500 thousand people live within the republic (out of thisabout 70% in cities). The ethnic structure of the population is dominated by three peoples: Moldovans, Ukrainians and Russians.
The PMR inherited a number of large industrial enterprises from the Soviet economy. Among them are the Moldavskaya State District Power Plant, a metallurgical and textile plant, and a cognac factory. Major cities of Transnistria actively trade with the European Union. True, all products manufactured in the republic are labeled Made in Moldova.
In conclusion of our short story about Transnistria, some interesting facts about this territorial entity:
- PMR is the only country in the world whose flag and coat of arms depict the main Soviet attributes (hammer, sickle 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, well-groomedness and cleanliness, which is often compared with Belarusian;
- In the Transnistrian city of Bender, Ivan Mazepa died, here in 1710 another Ukrainian hetman Philip Orlyk presented the public with the first constitution in Europe;
- two largest cities of the republic (Bendery and Tiraspol) are connected by one of the few intercity trolleybus lines in Europe with a length of 13 kilometers;
- there are offices of the United Russia political party in Transnistria;
- 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 activated separatist movements and with renewed vigor ignited a number of conflicts in different parts of the 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. Pridnestrovians did not want to be part of Moldova, fearing rapprochement with Romania.
The conflict turned into a phase of open military confrontation in the spring of 1992. In March, Moldova decided to restore its power over the rebellious left bank of the Dniester by force. However, units of the 14th Russian Army, as well as guardsmen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, acted on the side of the Pridnestrovians. Therefore, the Moldovans 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 Bendery. In July 1992, Pridnestrovian armed detachments, supported by Russian tanks, crossed the Dniester and entrenched themselves in Bendery. A real massacre began on the streets of the city, claiming the lives of 600 people. After this battle, the parties began to look for ways to peacefully resolve the conflict and finally signed a peace agreement in Moscow.
In total, about 1,200 people died in the Transnistrian conflict.
Cities of Transnistria
Administratively, the territory of the PMR is divided into 5 districts. Within the unrecognized state, there are 8 cities (they are listed from north to south):
- Wheater;
- Rybnitsa;
- Dubossary;
- Grigoriopol;
- metropolitan Tiraspol;
- Benders;
- Slobodzeya;
- border town of Dnestrovsk.
Transnistria also hosts a number of disputed and dual status territories. These include several villages (Koshnitsa, Pyryta, Dorotskoe, etc.), the Varnitsa microdistrict in Bendery and the village of Korzhevo 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, the "capital" is felt here. The quiet, provincial streets of Tiraspol are distinguished by a certain solidity, and in massive public buildings one can feel the “spirit of power”, although not recognized by anyone.
The Government and Parliament of the PMR are in Tiraspol. In addition, the city is an important historical and cultural center not only of Transnistria, but of the whole of Moldova.
From the Greek language the name Tiraspol is translated very simply and clearly - "the city on the Dniester". It really is located on the left bank of the largest Eastern European river, just six kilometers from the border with Ukraine. The city was founded in 1792. It was at this time, on the orders of Suvorov, that the construction of the fortress began here. In 1806, Tiraspol became a county center within the Kherson province, and between the two world wars, it managed to visit the center of the Moldavian ASSR.
Modern Tiraspolpretty pleasant. Its center pleases with cleanliness, tidiness, 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 (end of the 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 like to visit the modern Sheriff sports complex, which occupies a huge area of 65 hectares.
Bender is the most touristic city in Transnistria
Very few cities of Pridnestrovie can boast of constant visits by 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 and most populous city in the republic. And the first in the number of historical and architectural monuments. In the city center, many beautiful buildings of the 19th-20th centuries have been preserved. But the main tourist attraction in Bendery is the ancient and well-preserved Turkish fortress. By the way, part of the citadel is still occupied by an active military unit.
Along with traditional architectural monuments, there are quite a few "monuments" of the 1992 war in Bendery. For example, they decided not to restore the walls of the city hall, beaten by fragments of shells. Traces of the war can still be seen on its facades.
Rybnitsa - the industrial center of Transnistria
In the northunrecognized country, surrounded by the picturesque hills of the Podolsk Upland, the city of Rybnitsa is located. Pridnestrovie owes much to this city with its powerful industrial complex. Rybnitsa provides about half of the PMR's budget revenues, as well as about 60% of the republic's exports. Over 400 different enterprises operate here.
From the point of view of tourism, the city is not very remarkable. Of the local attractions - a 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 cable car (industrial purpose), spectacularly hovering over the Dniester.
Kamenka - the resort pearl of Transnistria
If the title of tourist mecca of the republic rightfully belongs to Bendery, then the city of Kamenka can safely be called the "recreational capital" of the unrecognized state. Transnistria can really boast of a pretty good resort, which has been known since the 1870s. The city of Kamenka is located in the extreme north of the PMR, at the confluence of the river of the same name with the Dniester. Unique natural and climatic conditions have formed here: a rocky, almost mountain range reliably shelters the city from cold winds, providing the Pridnestrovian resort with a long summer and a rather mild winter.
Only 9 thousand people live in Kamenka. The foundation of the local economy is agriculture and resorts. The most famous sanatorium in the republic operates in the city"Dniester", designed for the simultaneous recovery of 450 people. Kamenka is also famous for its fragrant and very tasty grapes and, accordingly, excellent wine.
Dnestrovsk is the energy heart of the republic
The city of Dnestrovsk is located in the extreme south of the PMR, in close proximity to the Ukrainian border. It is here that the largest power plant in the republic is located. The electricity generated here is even exported (to Moldova and Ukraine).
By chance, the Moldavskaya State District Power Plant was built in 1964 on the left bank of the river. If this had not happened, the economic independence of the unrecognized republic would now be in question. Today, about 10 thousand people live in the city. Most of the population of Dnestrovsk works at the local power plant.
