In this article we are going to explore the topic of Armed Forces of Transnistria and its impact on our contemporary society. Armed Forces of Transnistria is a skin that has captured the attention of experts and enthusiasts alike, and its relevance has only grown in recent years. Throughout this article, we will examine different facets of Armed Forces of Transnistria, from its history and evolution to its implications in today's world. Through detailed analysis, we hope to shed light on this topic and provide our readers with a deeper understanding of Armed Forces of Transnistria and its importance in the modern world.
Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic | |
---|---|
Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики | |
Founded | 6 September 1991 |
Headquarters | Tiraspol |
Leadership | |
Commander-in-chief | Vadim Krasnoselsky |
Minister of Defence | Major General Oleg Obruchkov |
Chief of the General Staff | Colonel Sergey Gerasyutenko |
Personnel | |
Military age | 18 |
Active personnel | 5,000 (2018)[1] |
Reserve personnel | 16,000 (2018)[1] |
Industry | |
Domestic suppliers | Transnistria |
Foreign suppliers | Russia Abkhazia South Ossetia |
Related articles | |
History | Transnistria War |
The Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic[a] 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]
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. 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]
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]
In order of precedence, the current military leadership is composed of the following:
Additional support is provided by the Operational Group of Russian Forces of the Russian Army, based in the Transnistrian city of Cobasna.
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:
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]
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]
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 | Soviet Union 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' | Soviet Union Transnistria |
[23][25] | |
Infantry Mobility Vehicles | |||
'Transvee' | Soviet Union Transnistria |
N/A | Humvee copy based on the GAZ-66 chassis.[22][26] |
Technicals And Fast Attack Vehicles | |||
Lada Niva | Soviet Union 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'' | Soviet Union 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 | Soviet Union 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 | Origin | Type | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Transport | ||||
An-2 | Soviet Union | Transport | 2[27] | |
Helicopters | ||||
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | Utility | 1[27][28] | |
Mil Mi-2 | Soviet Union | Utility | 1[29][27] |
Previous aircraft operated were the Antonov An-26, Antonov An-2, Yakovlev Yak-52 airplanes, and Mil Mi-2 and Mil Mi-24 helicopters.[30][31]