Cobasna

Cobasna (Moldovan Cyrillic: Кобасна; Ukrainian: Ковбасна, Kovbasna; Russian: Колбасная, Kolbasnaya) is a commune in northern Transnistria, Moldova that is composed of three villages: Cobasna, Cobasna station, and Suhaia Rîbnița. It is controlled by the self-proclaimed authorities of “Transnistria”. It is located 2 km from the border with Ukraine, in Rîbnița District. Cobasna is the site of a Russian, and formerly Soviet, ammunition depot known as the Cobasna ammunition depot. It has been referred to as the largest in Eastern Europe.

Not to be confused with Covasna, a town in Romania.
Cobasna
Кобасна (Moldovan Cyrillic)
Колбасная (Russian)
Ковбасна (Ukrainian)
Commune
Cobasna is located in Moldova
Cobasna
Cobasna
Coordinates: 47°46′47″N 29°12′35″E
Country (de jure) Moldova
Country (de facto) Transnistria[lower-alpha 1]
Elevation
152 m (499 ft)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

The majority of the original ammunition has either disappeared or has been removed from Cobasna under Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) supervision. Military equipment which was impractical to remove has undergone on-site destruction as per Moldovan demands that the "weapons dump" of Transnistria be removed. Transnistrian sources claim that the U.S. State Department recognizes that the process of removal of Russian munitions and equipment has been carried out with efficiency during 2003. In 2004 this removal process was blocked by Transnistrian authorities after tensions rose.[1] Today, around 22,000 tons of military equipment and ammunition reportedly remain there,[2] guarded by Russian troops.[3] 1,500 troops of the Operational Group of Russian Forces are stationed in the area.[4]

On 27 April 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Transnistria reported that drones flew over Cobasna and that shots were fired on the village. The ministry claimed that the drones came from Ukraine. Several attacks had recently occurred in Transnistria at the time.[5] They occurred during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and may been a false flag operation by Russia or Transnistria itself.[6]

Notes
  1. Transnistria's political status is disputed. It considers itself to be an independent state, but this is not recognised by any UN member state. The Moldovan government and the international community consider Transnistria a part of Moldova's territory.

References
  1. "Prime Minister of Moldova calls for withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria".
  2. (in Romanian) Cristian Delcea, "Agonia limbii române în Transnistria", Adevărul, 3 December 2012.
  3. "Prime Minister of Moldova calls for withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria".
  4. "Russian Military Games on Dniester Anger Moldova | Balkan Insight". 15 August 2018.
  5. "Moldova's separatist Transdniester claims 'drones seen, shots fired' near huge ammo depot". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 27 April 2022.
  6. "Possible 'false flag' attacks in separatist Moldovan region of Transnistria raises concerns Russia plans to expand conflict". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 April 2022.

47°47′N 29°12′E


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