Armed Forces of Transnistria

{{Short description|Military forces of the state of Transnistria}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox national military | name = Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic | native_name = {{lang|ru|Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики}} | image = Emblem of the armed forces of Transnistria.svg | alt = | caption = Insignia of the Armed Forces | image2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = | motto = | founded = {{Start date and age|1991|09|06|df=y}} | current_form = | disbanded = | branches = | headquarters = Tiraspol | flying_hours = | website =   | commander-in-chief = Vadim Krasnoselsky | commander-in-chief_title = Commander-in-chief | chief minister = | chief minister_title = | minister = Lieutenant General Oleg Obruchkov | minister_title = Minister of Defence | commander = Major General Pavel Mikhailov | commander_title = Chief of the General Staff  | age =18 | conscription = | manpower_data = | manpower_age = | available = | available_f = | fit = | fit_f = | reaching = | reaching_f = | active = 5,000 (2018)<ref name="pridnestrovie.net"/> | ranked = | reserve = 16,000 (2018)<ref name="pridnestrovie.net"/> | deployed =  | amount = | percent_GDP =  | domestic_suppliers = Transnistria | foreign_suppliers = {{flag|Russia}} {{flag|Abkhazia}} {{flag|South Ossetia}} {{flag|USSR}} (Former) | imports = | exports =  | history = Transnistria War | ranks = |country=|image_size=200}}

The '''Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic'''{{efn|{{langx|ro|Forțele armate ale Republicii Moldovenești Nistrene}}, {{lang-mo-Cyrl|Форцеле армате але Републичий Молдовенешть Нистрене}}; {{langx|ru|Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики|Vooruzhyonnye sily Pridnestrovskoy Moldavskoy Respubliki}}; {{langx|uk|Збройні сили Придністровської Молдавської Республіки|Zbroini syly Prydnistrovs'koi Moldavs'koi Respubliky}}}} are the military forces of Transnistria, a self-proclaimed and internationally unrecognized breakaway state located within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova. The Armed Forces operate under the authority of the Ministry of Defence. The Armed Forces were established on 6 September 1991, with the stated purpose of maintaining the region's claimed sovereignty and independence, in accordance with Article 11 of the region's constitution.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150422144134/http://mfa-pmr.org/en/bht Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Constitution]}}, 2015-09-17.</ref>

==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''' ({{Langx|ru|Республиканская гвардия ПМР}}) was formed. It was the direct counterpart to the Republic of Moldova's Republican Guard ({{Langx|ro|Garda Republicană}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lex.justice.md/index.php?action=view&view=doc&lang=1&id=306526|title=Sovietul Suprem al Republicii Sovietice Socialiste Moldova|website=justice.md}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inforesist.org/den-vooruzhennyih-sil-nepriznannoy-pmr/|title=Что сегодня происходит с "армией" непризнанной ПМР|date=October 8, 2020|website=InfoResist}}</ref>

==Structure== The armed forces are composed of 4,500 to 5,500 active duty soldiers, (with 15,000 - 20,000 personnel in the reserve).<ref name="pridnestrovie.net">Pridnestrovie.net, [https://web.archive.org/web/20091104073203/http://pridnestrovie.net/armedforces.html Law enforcement and armed forces of Pridnestrovie]</ref><ref>km.ru, [https://web.archive.org/web/20080315234437/http://www.km.ru/magazin/view.asp?id=B5A90475FA6B4800A679D5F28F31C354 Приднестровье показало мускулы], 2007-09-07 {{in lang|ru}}</ref>

thumb|President Vadim Krasnoselsky In order of precedence, the current military leadership is composed of the following: * President of Transnistria/Commander-in-Chief – President of Transnistria Vadim Krasnoselsky * Minister of Defence – Major General Oleg Obruchkov * Chief of the General Staff – Colonel Sergey Gerasyutenko [[File:Tiraspol military parade 2015.JPG|thumb|Tiraspol military parade 2015]]

===Units=== ====Regular Army==== * 1st Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade "Stefan Kitzac" (Tiraspol)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/17-12-19/pervoy-otdelnoy-motostrelkovoy-brigade-vooruzhennyh-sil-pmr|title=Первой Отдельной мотострелковой бригаде Вооруженных сил ПМР присвоено гвардейское и почетное наименование | Новости Приднестровья|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> * 2nd Motorised Rifle Brigade (Bender) * 3rd Motorised Rifle Brigade (Rîbnița) * 4th Motorised Rifle 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.thumb|A Mil Mi-17 similar to this one is 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.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://mopmr.org/|title=Министерство обороны ПМР – Новости, будни и праздники Армии ПМР|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/17-11-06/rote-pochetnogo-karaula-pmr-20-let|title=Роте почетного караула ПМР – 20 лет | Новости Приднестровья|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> * 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Оркестр ГШ ВС ПМР|url=http://dvorec-pmr.info/report.html?id=1425969724|access-date=2017-12-22|website=dvorec-pmr.info}}</ref> * Peacekeeping Force<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/20-05-05/mirotvorcy-priglashayut-muzhchin-na-voennye-sbory|title=Миротворческие силы ПМР приглашают мужчин на военные сборы | Новости Приднестровья|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novostipmr.com/ru/news/20-08-03/mirotvorcheskie-sily-pmr-priglashayut-muzhchin-na-voennye-sbory|title=Миротворческие силы ПМР приглашают мужчин на военные сборы | Новости Приднестровья|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref>

===Military education=== ====Higher education==== thumb|Cadets of the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense dressed in historical parade uniforms *Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense – Founded in May 1993, it is the seniormost military institution in the armed forces. It was reorganized as an independent institution from the Shevchenko Transnistria State University on 30 April 2008. In August 2009, the institute was awarded a battle flag and was given the honor of being renamed to honor Alexander Lebed in July 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date=2015-07-15|title=Выпускники Военного института Министерства обороны ПМР получили дипломы|url=http://vestipmr.info/articles/2015/07/15/vypuskniki-voennogo-instituta-ministerstva-oborony-pmr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224051915/http://vestipmr.info/articles/2015/07/15/vypuskniki-voennogo-instituta-ministerstva-oborony-pmr|archive-date=2017-02-24|access-date=2019-05-11|publisher=vestipmr.info}}</ref> * Basic training courses for military specialists

====Cadet schools==== *Tiraspol Suvorov Military School – It was founded on 1 September 2017 and is based on the Suvorov Military Schools in Russia and Belarus *Grigory Potemkin Republican Cadet Corps

==Security forces== * Ministry of State Security ** thumb|A T-64 main battle tankPMR Border Guard ** Independent Battalion of Special Operations "Delta" * Special Motorized Military Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (formed in 1995)<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mova |first1=Ruslan Petrovich |author-link1=:ru:Мова, Руслан Петрович |title=27 marta – Den vnutrennikh voysk |script-title=ru:27 марта – День внутренних войск |trans-title=March 27 – Internal Troops Day |url=https://www.mvdpmr.org/vazhnaya-informatsiya/28387-27-marta-den-vnutrennikh-vojsk-2.html|access-date=2023-12-22|website=МВД ПМР|date=27 March 2019 |language=ru}}</ref> * Spetsnaz

== Culture ==

===Events=== thumb|The PMR Honour Guard at the parade.|alt=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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://baltija.eu/2020/09/02/v-pridnestrove-otmechayut-30-letnij-yubilej-respubliki/|title=В Приднестровье отмечают 30-летний юбилей республики|date=September 2, 2020|website=Baltija.eu}}</ref> In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two jubilee celebrations were merged on 2 September.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

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)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://novostipmr.com/en/news/16-04-12/72nd-anniversary-tiraspol-liberation-nazi-invaders|title=72nd anniversary of Tiraspol liberation from Nazi invaders | Новости Приднестровья|accessdate=12 January 2024}}</ref> * State Security Day (May 16) * Peacekeeper Day (July 28)<ref>{{cite news|author=Александр Комаров|date=2012-07-26|title=В Приднестровье установлен День миротворца|language=ru|url=http://www.nr2.ru/pmr/396542.html|url-status=dead|access-date=2013-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212085212/http://www.nr2.ru/pmr/396542.html|archive-date=2013-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Дарья Евтушенко|title=В Приднестровье чествовали миротворцев|language=ru|url=http://profvesti.org/2013/08/04/11160/|access-date=2013-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212005347/http://profvesti.org/2013/08/04/11160/|archive-date=2013-12-12}}</ref> * Armed Forces Day (September 6) * Border Guards Day (September 14)

===Institutions=== ====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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Военно-исторический музей Вооружённых сил – Министерство обороны ПМР|url=https://mopmr.org/2018/05/06/28780/|access-date=2020-09-05|language=ru-RU|archive-date=2022-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311163111/https://mopmr.org/2018/05/06/28780/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-01|title=Спортивный клуб армии в Приднестровье может появиться уже на этой неделе|url=http://radio.pgtrk.com/news/010217/sportivnyy-klub-armii-v-pridnestrove-mozhet-poyavitsya-uzhe-na-etoy-nedele|access-date=2021-03-12|website=radio.pgtrk.com|language=ru}}</ref>

==Equipment == {| class="wikitable" |+Military equipment of the Armed Forces of Transnistria !Name !Image !Origin !In service !Notes |- ! colspan="5" |Tanks |- |T-64BV |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} |18<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-11-04 |title=Law enforcement and armed forces of Pridnestrovie {{!}} Pridnestrovie.net - Tiraspol, PMR: Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (Transnistria) |url=http://pridnestrovie.net/armedforces.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104073203/http://pridnestrovie.net/armedforces.html |archive-date=2009-11-04 |access-date=2019-06-23}}</ref> |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria's Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/11/the-struggle-for-relevance.html |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Oryx}}</ref> |- ! colspan="5" |Armoured Fighting Vehicles |- |BRDM-1 |thumb | rowspan="4" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="5" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |BRDM-2 |thumb |<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-08 |title=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" |url=https://odessa-journal.com/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/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=odessa-journal.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |MT-LB |thumb |<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria) |url=https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/pridnestrovian-moldavian-republic-transnistria/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Tank Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |GT-MU |thumb |<ref name=":1" /> |- |GT-MU With 73mm SPG-9 RCL | |{{Flag|USSR}} {{Flag|Transnistria}} |<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems |- |9P148 Konkurs |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} |N/A |<ref name=":2" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Infantry Fighting Vehicles |- |BMP-1P |thumb | rowspan="2" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="2" |N/A | rowspan="2" |(Only a few in possession).<ref name=":1" /> |- |BMP-2 Obr. 1984 |thumb |- ! colspan="5" |Armoured Personnel Carriers |- |BTR-50 |thumb | rowspan="4" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="5" |N/A |<ref name=":1" /> |- |BTR-60PB |thumb |(Some locally up-armoured examples are also in service).<ref name=":0" /> |- |BTR-70 |thumb |(Some equipped with pintle-mounted ATGMs).<ref name=":2" /> |- |BTR-80 |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- |BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} {{Flag|Transnistria}} |<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Stijn Mitzer |author2=Joost Oliemans |title=A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2017/02/a-forgotten-army-transnistrias-btrg-127.html |access-date=25 February 2017 |website=Oryx}}</ref> |- ! colspan="5" |Infantry Mobility Vehicles |- |'Transvee' |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} {{Flag|Transnistria}} |N/A |Humvee copy based on the GAZ-66 chassis.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Stijn Mitzer |author2=Joost Oliemans |title=Ingenuity In Isolation: Transnistria's Humvee Copy |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/06/ingenuity-in-isolation-transnistrias.html |date=11 June 2022 |website=Oryx}}</ref> |- ! colspan="5" |Technicals And Fast Attack Vehicles |- |Lada Niva |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} {{Flag|Transnistria}} | rowspan="2" |N/A |<ref name=":1" /> |- |UAZ-469 |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} |(Armed with ATGMs or SPG-9 RCLs).<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Command Posts And Communications Stations |- |BMP-1KSh Command And Staff Vehicle |thumb | rowspan="4" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="4" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |R-145BM1 Command Vehicle |thumb |<ref name=":2" /> |- |BTR-60PU-12M Air Defence Command Vehicle |thumb |(Some used as driver-trainer vehicles).<ref name=":1" /> |- |R-409 Radio Station | |<ref name=":2" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Engineering Vehicles And Equipment |- |BAT-2 Heavy Engineering Vehicle |thumb | rowspan="9" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="9" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |IRM 'Zhuk' Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle |thumb |<ref name=":1" /> |- |UR-77 'Meteorit' Mine Clearing Vehicle |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- |PTS Tracked Amphibious Transport |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- |PTS-2 Tracked Amphibious Transport |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- |GMZ-3 Minelayer |thumb |<ref name=":2" /> |- |PMZ-4 Minelayer |thumb |<ref name=":1" /> |- |PZM-2 Trench Digger |thumb |<ref name=":1" /> |- |BMK-130M/BMK-150 Towing And Motor Boat |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Towed Artillery |- |85mm D-44 Divisional Gun |thumb | rowspan="3" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="3" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |100mm MT-12 Anti-Tank Gun |thumb |<ref name=":2" /> |- |100mm KS-19 AA Gun Used As Howitzer |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Multiple Rocket Launchers |- |122mm 'S1T' or '1ST' <nowiki>''</nowiki>Pribor-1<nowiki>''</nowiki> | | rowspan="2" |{{Flag|USSR}} {{Flag|Transnistria}} | rowspan="2" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |122mm 'S2T' or '2ST' <nowiki>''</nowiki>Pribor-2<nowiki>''</nowiki> | |<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Towed Anti-Aircraft Guns |- |14.5mm ZPU-1 |thumb | rowspan="5" |{{Flag|USSR}} | rowspan="5" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |14.5mm ZPU-2 |thumb |<ref name=":1" /> |- |14.5mm ZPU-4 |thumb |<ref name=":2" /> |- |23mm ZU-23 |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- |57mm AZP S-60 |thumb |<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns |- |MT-LB With Dual 12.7mm NSV Turret | | rowspan="3" |{{Flag|USSR}} {{Flag|Transnistria}} | rowspan="3" |N/A |<ref name=":0" /> |- |14.5mm ZPU-2 On Ural-4320 | |<ref name=":1" /> |- |23mm ZU-23 On ZiL-131 | |<ref name=":0" /> |- ! colspan="5" |Radars |- |P-12 'Spoon Rest A' |thumb |{{Flag|USSR}} |N/A |<ref name=":2" /> |}

===Aircraft=== {| class="wikitable" ! Aircraft !Image ! Origin ! Type ! In service ! Notes |- ! colspan="6" |Transport |- | An-2 |thumb | {{flag|USSR}} | Transport | 2<ref name="revista22">{{cite web|url=https://revista22.ro/international/ce-trupe-si-armament-exista-in-transnistria-5000-de-militari-interni-si-1500-ilegal-de-la-rusi|title=Ce trupe și armament există în Transnistria: 5.000 de militari interni și 1500, ilegal, de la ruși|language=ro|work=revista22.ro|date=27 April 2022}}</ref> | |- ! colspan="6" | Helicopters |- | Mil Mi-8 |thumb | {{flag|USSR}} | Utility | 1<ref name="revista22"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/mi-8-helicopter-destroyed-in-apparent-drone-attack-near-tiraspol-video |title=Drone destroys Mi-8 helicopter on the ground - AeroTime |date=18 March 2024 }}</ref> | |- | Mil Mi-2 |thumb | {{flag|USSR}} | Utility | 1<ref name="World Air Forces 2023">{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90688|title= World Air Forces 2023|newspaper= Flight Global|publisher= Flightglobal Insight |year= 2023 }}</ref><ref name="revista22"/> | |}

===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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurodemobbed.org.uk/locations.php?location=10360|title=Tiraspol Air Base - Transnistria, Moldova|work=eurodemobbed.org.uk|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="MilAvia Press">{{cite web |author=MilAvia Press |url=http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/transnistria/index.php |title=Order of Battle – Transnistria |website=Milaviapress.com |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017213100/http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/transnistria/index.php |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * Official website, [https://mopmr.org/ Ministry of Defense] * Pridnestrovie.net, [https://web.archive.org/web/20091104073203/http://pridnestrovie.net/armedforces.html Law enforcement and armed forces of Transnistria] (archived link)

Category:Military of Transnistria