Armed Forces of Transnistria explained

Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Native Name:Russian: Вооружённые силы Приднестровской Молдавской Республики
Headquarters:Tiraspol
Commander-In-Chief:Vadim Krasnoselsky
Commander-In-Chief Title:Commander-in-chief
Minister:Major General Oleg Obruchkov
Minister Title:Minister of Defence
Commander:Colonel Sergey Gerasyutenko
Commander Title:Chief of the General Staff
Age:18
Active:5,000 (2018)
Reserve:16,000 (2018)
Domestic Suppliers:Transnistria
Foreign Suppliers:Russia
Abkhazia
South Ossetia
History:Transnistria War

The Armed Forces of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic 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.[1]

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 was formed. It was the direct counterpart to the Republic of Moldova's Republican Guard .[2] 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.[3]

Structure

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

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

Units

Regular Army

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

Specialized Units

Military education

Higher education

Cadet schools

Security forces

Culture

Events

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:

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.[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-64BV18[21] [22]
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
BRDM-1N/A
BRDM-2[23]
MT-LB[24]
GT-MU
GT-MU With 73mm SPG-9 RCL
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems
9P148 KonkursN/A
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
BMP-1PN/A(Only a few in possession).
BMP-2 Obr. 1984
Armoured Personnel Carriers
BTR-50N/A
(Some locally up-armoured examples are also in service).
BTR-70(Some equipped with pintle-mounted ATGMs).
BTR-80
BTRG-127 'Bumblebee'
[25]
Infantry Mobility Vehicles
'Transvee'
N/AHumvee copy based on the GAZ-66 chassis.[26]
Technicals And Fast Attack Vehicles
Lada Niva
N/A
UAZ-469(Armed with ATGMs or SPG-9 RCLs).
Command Posts And Communications Stations
BMP-1KSh Command And Staff VehicleN/A
R-145BM1 Command Vehicle
BTR-60PU-12M Air Defence Command Vehicle(Some used as driver-trainer vehicles).
R-409 Radio Station
Engineering Vehicles And Equipment
BAT-2 Heavy Engineering VehicleN/A
IRM 'Zhuk' Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle
UR-77 'Meteorit' Mine Clearing Vehicle
PTS Tracked Amphibious Transport
PTS-2 Tracked Amphibious Transport
GMZ-3 Minelayer
PMZ-4 Minelayer
PZM-2 Trench Digger
BMK-130M/BMK-150 Towing And Motor Boat
Towed Artillery
85mm D-44 Divisional GunN/A
100mm MT-12 Anti-Tank Gun
100mm KS-19 AA Gun Used As Howitzer
Multiple Rocket Launchers
122mm 'S1T' or '1ST' ''Pribor-1''
N/A
122mm 'S2T' or '2ST' ''Pribor-2''
Towed Anti-Aircraft Guns
14.5mm ZPU-1N/A
14.5mm ZPU-2
14.5mm ZPU-4
23mm ZU-23
57mm AZP S-60
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
MT-LB With Dual 12.7mm NSV Turret
N/A
14.5mm ZPU-2 On Ural-4320
23mm ZU-23 On ZiL-131
Radars
P-12 'Spoon Rest A'N/A

Aircraft

AircraftOriginTypeIn serviceNotes
Transport
An-2Transport2[27]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8Utility1[28]
Mil Mi-2Utility1[29]

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.[30] [31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://mfa-pmr.org/en/bht Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Constitution
  2. Web site: Sovietul Suprem al Republicii Sovietice Socialiste Moldova. justice.md.
  3. Web site: Что сегодня происходит с "армией" непризнанной ПМР. October 8, 2020. InfoResist.
  4. Pridnestrovie.net, Law enforcement and armed forces of Pridnestrovie
  5. km.ru, Приднестровье показало мускулы, 2007-09-07
  6. Web site: Первой Отдельной мотострелковой бригаде Вооруженных сил ПМР присвоено гвардейское и почетное наименование | Новости Приднестровья. 12 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Министерство обороны ПМР – Новости, будни и праздники Армии ПМР. 12 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Роте почетного караула ПМР – 20 лет | Новости Приднестровья. 12 January 2024.
  9. Web site: Оркестр ГШ ВС ПМР. 2017-12-22. dvorec-pmr.info.
  10. Web site: Миротворческие силы ПМР приглашают мужчин на военные сборы | Новости Приднестровья. 12 January 2024.
  11. Web site: Миротворческие силы ПМР приглашают мужчин на военные сборы | Новости Приднестровья. 12 January 2024.
  12. Web site: 2015-07-15. Выпускники Военного института Министерства обороны ПМР получили дипломы. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224051915/http://vestipmr.info/articles/2015/07/15/vypuskniki-voennogo-instituta-ministerstva-oborony-pmr. 2017-02-24. 2019-05-11. vestipmr.info.
  13. Web site: Mova . Ruslan Petrovich .

    ru:Мова, Руслан Петрович

    . 27 marta – Den vnutrennikh voysk . ru:27 марта – День внутренних войск . March 27 – Internal Troops Day . 2023-12-22. МВД ПМР. 27 March 2019 . ru.
  14. Web site: В Приднестровье отмечают 30-летний юбилей республики. September 2, 2020. Baltija.eu.
  15. Web site: В Приднестровье парад Победы проведут в День независимости республики. EADaily. 24 June 2020 .
  16. Web site: 72nd anniversary of Tiraspol liberation from Nazi invaders | Новости Приднестровья. 12 January 2024.
  17. News: Александр Комаров. 2012-07-26. В Приднестровье установлен День миротворца. ru. dead. 2013-12-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212085212/http://www.nr2.ru/pmr/396542.html. 2013-12-12.
  18. News: Дарья Евтушенко. В Приднестровье чествовали миротворцев. ru. 2013-12-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212005347/http://profvesti.org/2013/08/04/11160/. 2013-12-12.
  19. Web site: Военно-исторический музей Вооружённых сил – Министерство обороны ПМР. 2020-09-05. ru-RU. 2022-03-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20220311163111/https://mopmr.org/2018/05/06/28780/. dead.
  20. Web site: 2017-02-01. Спортивный клуб армии в Приднестровье может появиться уже на этой неделе. 2021-03-12. radio.pgtrk.com. ru.
  21. Web site: 2009-11-04 . Law enforcement and armed forces of Pridnestrovie Pridnestrovie.net - Tiraspol, PMR: Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (Transnistria) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091104073203/http://pridnestrovie.net/armedforces.html . 2009-11-04 . 2019-06-23.
  22. Web site: Oryx . The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria's Fighting Vehicles . 2022-11-25 . Oryx.
  23. Web site: 2022-09-08 . 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" . 2022-11-25 . odessa-journal.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria) . 2022-11-25 . Tank Encyclopedia . en-US.
  25. Web site: Stijn Mitzer . Joost Oliemans . A Forgotten Army: Transnistria's BTRG-127 'Bumblebee' APCs . 25 February 2017 . Oryx.
  26. Web site: Stijn Mitzer . Joost Oliemans . Ingenuity In Isolation: Transnistria's Humvee Copy . 11 June 2022 . Oryx.
  27. Web site: Ce trupe și armament există în Transnistria: 5.000 de militari interni și 1500, ilegal, de la ruși. ro. revista22.ro. 27 April 2022.
  28. Web site: Drone destroys Mi-8 helicopter on the ground - AeroTime . 18 March 2024 .
  29. News: World Air Forces 2023. Flight Global. Flightglobal Insight . 2023 .
  30. Web site: Tiraspol Air Base - Transnistria, Moldova. eurodemobbed.org.uk. 22 October 2023.
  31. Web site: MilAvia Press . Order of Battle – Transnistria . Milaviapress.com . 30 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171017213100/http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/transnistria/index.php . 17 October 2017 . dead.