Armed Forces of Transnistria

The Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Russian: Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики; Vooruzhyonniye Sily Pridnestrovskoy Moldavskoy Respubliki, Moldovan: Форцеле армате але Републичий Молдовенешть Нистрене; Forțele armate ale Republicii Moldovenești Nistreene, Ukrainian: Збройні сили Придністровської Молдавської Республіки; Zbroini syly Prydnistrovśkoi Moldavśkoi Respubliky), are the military forces of the semi-recognised state of Transnistria. The Armed Forces were created on 6 September 1991 to protect the sovereignty and independence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, in accordance with Article 11 of the Republic's Constitution.[2]

President Vadim Krasnoselsky
Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Insignia of the Armed Forces
Founded6 September 1991 (1991-09-06)
HeadquartersTiraspol
Leadership
Commander-in-chief Vadim Krasnoselsky
Minister of Defence Major General Oleg Obruchkov
Chief of the General Staff Colonel Sergey Gerasyutenko
Manpower
Military age18
Active personnel5,500
Reserve personnel20,000[1]
Industry
Domestic suppliers Transnistria
Foreign suppliers Russia
 Abkhazia
 South Ossetia
Related articles
HistoryTransnistria War

In order of precedence, the current military leadership is composed of the following:

History

On 6 September 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Transnistria adopted a resolution which called for the formation of a Transnistrian military unit. As a result, the Republican Guard (Russian: Республиканская гвардия ПМР) was formed. It was the direct counterpart to the Republic of Moldova's Republican Guard (Romanian: Garda Republicană).[3] Both were the predecessors to their respective countries armed forces. In its first major conflict, the guard repelled troops of the Moldovan National Army against the city Dubasari in December 1991. By the end of 1991, the organizational formation of the Transnistrian armed forces was generally completed. Shortly after the outbreak of Transnistrian War in March 1992, the People's Militia was created, having been supported and armed by the Russian Armed Forces 14th Guards Army. By the end of 1992, all main structures of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff were formed, including individual military units, government agencies, and specialized services. On 14 March 1993, personnel of the new armed forces took the military oath of allegiance to the country.[4]

Structure

The armed forces are composed of 4,500 to 5,500 active duty soldiers, (with 15,000 - 20,000 personnel in the reserve).[1][5]

Regular Army
  • 1st Motorised Infantry Brigade (Tiraspol)
  • 2nd Motorised Infantry Brigade (Bender)
  • 3rd Motorised Infantry Brigade (Rîbniţa)
  • 4th Motorised Infantry Brigade (Dubăsari)
  • 1st Independent Aviation Detachment
  • Tank Battalion
  • Artillery Regiment
  • Anti-aircraft Regiment
  • Special Forces Battalion
  • Security Battalion
  • Intelligence Company

Additional support is provided by the Operational Group of Russian Forces of the Russian Army, based in the Transnistrian city of Cobasna.

Specialized Units
Director of Music of the General Staff Band, Colonel Vitaly Voinov
  • General Staff of the Armed Forces – It is the commanding and managing body of the armed forces. It is tasked with enforcing military strategy which comes from the ministry of defense.
  • PMR Honour Guard – Since its establishment on 6 November 1997, the PMR Honour Guard has taken part in the welcoming of honoured guests and festive and ceremonies. Notable commanders of the unit include Yaroslav Isak, Valentin Rasputin and Artem Chernichenko.[6][7]
  • General Staff Band – The band's musicians have at least a year of experience in the musical services of the Russian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian armed forces. Their repertoire includes over 500 works by foreign composers. The band is led by Colonel Vitaly Voinov.[8]
  • Peacekeeping Force[9][10]

Higher education
Cadets of the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense dressed in historical parade uniforms

Cadet schools

Security forces

Equipment

Small arms
The PMR Honor Guard with AK-74 rifles
Small arms used by Transnistrian armed forces
Name Origin Type Variant Notes
Makarov PM Soviet Union Semi-automatic pistol
SVD Dragunov Russia Sniper rifle
AK-47 Russia Assault rifle
AKM Russia Assault rifle
AK-74 Russia Assault rifle
PKM Soviet Union General-purpose machine gun
RPG-7 Russia Rocket-propelled grenade
RPG-18 Russia Rocket-propelled grenade
RPG-22 Russia Anti-armor
RPG-26 Russia Anti-armor
RPG-27 Russia Anti-armor

Armor
A BMP-1P armored personnel carrier
Armored equipment used by Transnistrian armed forces
Name Origin Type In service Notes
Armored fighting vehicle
T-64BV Soviet Union Main battle tank 18[13]
T-55 Soviet Union Main battle tank
BMP-1 Russia Infantry fighting vehicle
MT-LB Russia APC
GMZ-3 Russia APC
BTR-70 Soviet Union APC
BTR-60 Soviet Union APC Amphibious capable vehicle
BRDM-2 Soviet Union APC Amphibious capable vehicle
Artillery
BM-21 Grad Soviet Union Multiple rocket launcher
D-44 Soviet Union Field gun
ZU-23-2 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft
ZPU-4 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft
KS-19 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft
AZP S-60 Soviet Union Anti-aircraft Self-propelled
9K38 Igla Soviet Union MANPADS

Air Force
Aircraft roundel
Equipment used by Transnistrian Air Force
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Antonov An-2 Soviet Union Transport 3[14] One has damaged wings and is not airworthy.
Antonov An-26 Soviet Union Transport 1[15][16] Not airworthy.
Helicopters
Mil Mi-2 Soviet Union
Poland		 Utility/Transport 4[15][14][17]
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union Utility/Transport 6[15][16][17] One is missing rotor-blades and is not airworthy.
Trainer aircraft
Yakovlev Yak-52 Soviet Union Trainer 2[15]

Culture

Events
The PMR Honour Guard at the parade.

On Republic Day and Victory Day, two-hour military parades of the Armed Forces of Transnistria is annually held on Suvorov Square, usually featuring over 15 military contingents overseen by the president, the Prime Minister and members of the Supreme Council. A historical mechanized convoy is usually assembled at the parade.[18] In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two jubilee celebrations were merged on 2 September.[19]

The official armed forces holiday is Defender of the Fatherland Day on 23 February, which celebrated similarly to Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Other military holidays include:

  • Internal Troops Day (March 24)
  • Liberation Day (April 12)[20]
  • State Security Day (May 16)
  • Peacekeeper Day (July 28)[21][22]
  • Armed Forces Day (September 6)
  • Border Guards Day (September 14)

Museum

The Military History Museum of the Armed Forces was opened on 13 November 1999 by President Smirnov together with Defense Minister Stanislav Hazheev. It has been visited by more than 20,000 servicemen, students, and tourists. The main attraction is the diorama "Storming the bridge over the Dniester", which depicts an episode of the battle on 20 June 1992. The museum is conventionally divided into two parts: exhibits and archival photographs. The central area is occupied by a ring in memory of fallen guardsmen.[23]

  • Minister of Defense Oleg Obruchkov
  • Pridnestrovian Army personnel (2007)
  • PMR Special Motorized Unit during a parade (2016)
  • The PMR Border Guard
  • T-64BV during a military parade (2010)
  • The guard of honor of the Tiraspol Suvorov Military School
  • Pridnestrovian Airborne Troops
  • Pridnestrovian special forces
  • A Transnistrian Air Force An-2
  • A Transnistrian Yak-52

See also

References
  1. Pridnestrovie.net, Law enforcement and armed forces of Pridnestrovie
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Constitution, 2015-09-17.
  3. http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=306526
  4. "Что сегодня происходит с «армией» непризнанной ПМР". InfoResist. October 8, 2020.
  5. km.ru, Приднестровье показало мускулы, 2007-09-07 (in Russian)
  6. "Министерство обороны ПМР – Новости, будни и праздники Армии ПМР".
  7. "Роте почетного караула ПМР – 20 лет | Новости Приднестровья".
  8. "Оркестр ГШ ВС ПМР". dvorec-pmr.info. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  9. https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/20-05-05/mirotvorcy-priglashayut-muzhchin-na-voennye-sbory
  10. https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/20-08-03/mirotvorcheskie-sily-pmr-priglashayut-muzhchin-na-voennye-sbory
  11. "Выпускники Военного института Министерства обороны ПМР получили дипломы". vestipmr.info. 2015-07-15. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  12. Administrator1. "27 марта – День внутренних войск". МВД ПМР (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  13. "Law enforcement and armed forces of Pridnestrovie | Pridnestrovie.net - Tiraspol, PMR: Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (Transnistria)". 2009-11-04. Archived from the original on 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  14. "Tiraspol Airport Area 1". Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  15. "Transnistrian military aviation OrBat". Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  16. "Photos of Transnistrian military aircraft". 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
  17. "Photos of Transnistrian military aircraft". 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
  18. "В Приднестровье отмечают 30-летний юбилей республики". Baltija.eu. September 2, 2020.
  19. "В Приднестровье парад Победы проведут в День независимости республики". EADaily.
  20. "72nd anniversary of Tiraspol liberation from Nazi invaders | Новости Приднестровья".
  21. Александр Комаров (2012-07-26). "В Приднестровье установлен День миротворца" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  22. Дарья Евтушенко. "В Приднестровье чествовали миротворцев" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  23. "Военно-исторический музей Вооружённых сил – Министерство обороны ПМР" (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-09-05.
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