Armed Forces of Transnistria

The Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Romanian: Forțele armate ale Republicii Moldovenești Nistrene, Moldovan Cyrillic: Форцеле армате але Републичий Молдовенешть Нистрене; Russian: Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики; Ukrainian: Збройні сили Придністровської Молдавської Республіки) are the military forces of the unrecognized state of Transnistria. The Armed Forces fall under the leadership of the Ministry of Defence. The Armed Forces were created on 6 September 1991 to maintain the sovereignty and independence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, in accordance with Article 11 of the Republic's Constitution.[2]

Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики
Insignia of the Armed Forces
Founded6 September 1991 (1991-09-06)
HeadquartersTiraspol
Leadership
Commander-in-chiefVadim Krasnoselsky
Minister of DefenceMajor General Oleg Obruchkov
Chief of the General StaffColonel Sergey Gerasyutenko
Personnel
Military age18
Active personnel15,000
Reserve personnel80,000[1]
Industry
Domestic suppliersTransnistria
Foreign suppliersRussia
Abkhazia
South Ossetia
Related articles
HistoryTransnistria War

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 Transnistria 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 Moldovan troops from the city Dubăsari 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 Defence 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. As of 2021 Transnistria is equipped mainly with Soviet-Era equipment including the T-64BV tank which is still quite capable given Moldova does not own any tanks. Infantry fighting vehicles are the BMP-1 and BMP-2 with at least 15 in service as of 2021. APCs include the BTR family of APCs as well as over 70 MT-LBs, GT-MU, and BTRG-127 vehicles. Trucks are typically post-Soviet, Ural-375, GAZ-66, and Zil-131 trucks make up the logistics backbone. Rocket artillery is very important for the Armed Forces given the limited number of conventional artillery Transnistria has. Rocket launchers include the Grad system, some of which were placed on ZIL-131 trucks. Transnistria also has a domestic rocket launcher industry which has built the Pribor-1 and Pribor-2 rocket launchers with 20 tubes and 48 tubes respectively, both systems are of 122mm caliber. Transnistria does have a small domestic drone industry which has been producing reconnaissance drones for the military since at least 2019. These have been jointly used with the Pribor-2 rocket launch systems in exercises to increase accuracy of the rockets via drone targeting.[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]

President Vadim Krasnoselsky

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

Tiraspol military parade 2015

Regular Army
  • 1st Guards Motorised Infantry Brigade "Stefan Kitzac" (Tiraspol)[6]
  • 2nd Motorised Infantry Brigade (Bender)
  • 3rd Motorised Infantry Brigade (Rîbnița)
  • 4th Motorised Infantry Brigade (Dubăsari)
  • 1st Independent Aviation Detachment
  • Tank Battalion
  • Artillery Regiment
  • Anti-aircraft Regiment
  • Special Forces Battalion
  • Security Battalion
  • Intelligence Company
  • Airborne Infantry (VDV)

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

Specialized Units
  • 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.
    A Mil Mi-17 similar to this one are used by Transnistria
  • 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.[7][8]
  • General Staff Band – The band's musicians must 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.[9]
  • Peacekeeping Force[10][11]

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

Cadet schools

Security forces

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.[14] In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two jubilee celebrations were merged on 2 September.[15]

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)[16]
  • State Security Day (May 16)
  • Peacekeeper Day (July 28)[17][18]
  • 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.[19]

Sports Club

The Army Sports Club in Transnistria is a sports movement in the army that has the involvement of not only active military personnel, but also retired ones, as well as their family members, and pre-conscription youth. Almost anyone who wants to compete under the SKA banner are able to join the club. It was created as part of a return to the traditions of Soviet sports.[20]

Equipment
Military equipment of the Armed Forces of Transnistria
Name Origin In service Notes
Tanks
T-64BV  Soviet Union 18[21] [22]
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
BRDM-1  Soviet Union N/A [22]
BRDM-2 [23]
MT-LB [24]
GT-MU [23]
GT-MU With 73mm SPG-9 RCL  Transnistria [22]
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems
9P148 Konkurs  Soviet Union N/A [24]
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
BMP-1P  Soviet Union N/A (Only a few in possession).[23]
BMP-2 Obr. 1984
Armoured Personnel Carriers
BTR-50  Soviet Union N/A [23]
BTR-60PB (Some locally up-armoured examples are also in service).[22]
BTR-70 (Some equipped with pintle-mounted ATGMs).[24]
BTR-80 [22]
BTRG-127 'Bumblebee'  Transnistria [23][25]
Infantry Mobility Vehicles
'Transvee'  Transnistria N/A Humvee copy based on the GAZ-66 chassis.[22][26]
Technicals And Fast Attack Vehicles
Lada Niva  Transnistria N/A [23]
UAZ-469  Soviet Union (Armed with ATGMs or SPG-9 RCLs).[22]
Command Posts And Communications Stations
BMP-1KSh Command And Staff Vehicle  Soviet Union N/A [22]
R-145BM1 Command Vehicle [24]
BTR-60PU-12M Air Defence Command Vehicle (Some used as driver-trainer vehicles).[23]
R-409 Radio Station [24]
Engineering Vehicles And Equipment
BAT-2 Heavy Engineering Vehicle  Soviet Union N/A [22]
IRM 'Zhuk' Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle [23]
UR-77 'Meteorit' Mine Clearing Vehicle [22]
PTS Tracked Amphibious Transport [22]
PTS-2 Tracked Amphibious Transport [22]
GMZ-3 Minelayer [24]
PMZ-4 Minelayer [23]
PZM-2 Trench Digger [23]
BMK-130M/BMK-150 Towing And Motor Boat [22]
Towed Artillery
85mm D-44 Divisional Gun  Soviet Union N/A [22]
100mm MT-12 Anti-Tank Gun [24]
100mm KS-19 AA Gun Used As Howitzer [22]
Multiple Rocket Launchers
122mm 'S1T' or '1ST' ''Pribor-1''  Transnistria N/A [22]
122mm 'S2T' or '2ST' ''Pribor-2'' [22]
Towed Anti-Aircraft Guns
14.5mm ZPU-1  Soviet Union N/A [22]
14.5mm ZPU-2 [23]
14.5mm ZPU-4 [24]
23mm ZU-23 [22]
57mm AZP S-60 [22]
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
MT-LB With Dual 12.7mm NSV Turret  Transnistria N/A [22]
14.5mm ZPU-2 On Ural-4320 [23]
23mm ZU-23 On ZiL-131 [22]
Radars
P-12 'Spoon Rest A'  Soviet Union N/A [24]

Aircraft
Aircraft Origin Type In service Notes
Transport
An-2 Soviet Union Transport 2[27]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union Utility 2[27]
Mil Mi-2 Soviet Union Utility 1[28][27]

Retired aircraft

Previous aircraft operated were the Antonov An-26, Antonov An-2, Yakovlev Yak-52 airplanes, and Mil Mi-2 and Mil Mi-24 helicopters.[29][30]

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. "Первой Отдельной мотострелковой бригаде Вооруженных сил ПМР присвоено гвардейское и почетное наименование".
  7. "Министерство обороны ПМР – Новости, будни и праздники Армии ПМР".
  8. "Роте почетного караула ПМР – 20 лет | Новости Приднестровья".
  9. "Оркестр ГШ ВС ПМР". dvorec-pmr.info. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  10. https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/20-05-05/mirotvorcy-priglashayut-muzhchin-na-voennye-sbory
  11. https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/20-08-03/mirotvorcheskie-sily-pmr-priglashayut-muzhchin-na-voennye-sbory
  12. "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.
  13. Administrator1 (27 March 2019). "27 марта – День внутренних войск". МВД ПМР (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  14. "В Приднестровье отмечают 30-летний юбилей республики". Baltija.eu. September 2, 2020.
  15. "В Приднестровье парад Победы проведут в День независимости республики". EADaily. 24 June 2020.
  16. "72nd anniversary of Tiraspol liberation from Nazi invaders | Новости Приднестровья".
  17. Александр Комаров (2012-07-26). "В Приднестровье установлен День миротворца" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  18. Дарья Евтушенко. "В Приднестровье чествовали миротворцев" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  19. "Военно-исторический музей Вооружённых сил – Министерство обороны ПМР" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  20. "Спортивный клуб армии в Приднестровье может появиться уже на этой неделе". radio.pgtrk.com (in Russian). 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  21. "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.
  22. Oryx. "The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  23. "Defence Intelligence: The population of Transnistria refuses to sign contracts with the Russian army, and there is mass desertion in the "operational group of troops"". odessa-journal.com. 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  24. "Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria)". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
  25. Stijn Mitzer; Joost Oliemans. "A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs". Oryx. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  26. Stijn Mitzer; Joost Oliemans (11 June 2022). "Ingenuity In Isolation: Transnistria's Humvee Copy". Oryx.
  27. "Ce trupe și armament există în Transnistria: 5.000 de militari interni și 1500, ilegal, de la ruși". revista22.ro (in Romanian). 27 April 2022.
  28. "World Air Forces 2023". Flight Global. Flightglobal Insight. 2023.
  29. "Tiraspol Air Base - Transnistria, Moldova". eurodemobbed.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  30. MilAvia Press. "Order of Battle – Transnistria". Milaviapress.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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