On March 2, 1992, the Republic of Moldova was shaken by its first armed conflict after the proclamation of independence. The tensions accumulated between the constitutional authorities in Chisinau and the self-proclaimed administration in Tiraspol led to the outbreak of the war, officially called “for the defense of the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova”.
The dissensions between Chisinau and Tiraspol had persisted since 1990. After the declaration of independence in August 1991, the central authorities tried to reassert their control over the entire territory of the country, including on the left bank of the Nistru, the IPN reports.
The first battles took place in Dubăsari town, where the Moldovan security forces tried to take control of some strategic facilities occupied by the separatist forces. The conflict quickly spread to Cocieri, Coșnița and Doroțcaia, and escalated significantly in March and April. Both sides used weapons and military equipment. The official Chisinau declared a state of emergency and mobilized policemen, the military and volunteers.
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Although Russia denied involvement in the conflict, Russian soldiers – the so-called 14th Army, with a staff of over 6,000 soldiers – were involved against the Moldovan forces. This was later confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights.
The Nistru war lasted until July 1992, when a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation, and a peacekeeping mission was set up. The then presidents Mircea Snegur and Boris Yeltsin signed a convention for the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The combats of 1992 resulted in casualties among both the military and civilians. Estimates vary. On both sides, almost 1,000 people died, of which 400 were civilians. 4,500 people were injured and hundreds of people were forced to leave their homes.
The Nistru war is one of the most tragic episodes in the history of the Republic of Moldova, with consequences that remained unresolved so far. The Transnistrian region is a separatist area. The conflict remained frozen, fueling instability and uncertainty related to the territorial integrity of the state.
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