Fleet of Moldova. Small and underpowered. The military structure of the active PMR Armed Forces

In Moldova, they put forward versions about the need to transfer military personnel to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. One of the reasons for maintaining the army is the frozen conflict with Transnistria. / MD National Army / Flickr

The National Army includes the ground forces and the Air Force. The armed forces of Moldova were constantly reduced. In 1997, the army numbered 11 thousand people, 10 years later there was a reduction from 6.8 thousand to 6.5. / MD National Army / Flickr

Moldova, like other post-Soviet countries, got an impressive arsenal of Soviet weapons. In the 2000s, the balance of the Moldovan troops included more than 200 armored vehicles and the same number of artillery pieces: howitzers, mortars and MLRS. / MD National Army / Flickr

Moldova does not have a full access to the Black Sea. The "marine" component of the Armed Forces has been replaced by the Danube Forces (former Danube Brigade of the Moldovan Navy), which are deployed in the port of Giurgiulesti on the border with Romania and Ukraine. / MD National Army / Flickr

The Moldavian Air Force includes several Soviet-made Antonov transport aircraft, Mi-8 multi-purpose helicopters, and S-125 Neva anti-aircraft missile systems. The photo shows the Yak-18T training aircraft. / MD National Army / Flickr

The basis of the ground forces of Moldova is three motorized infantry brigades stationed in Balti, Chisinau and Cahul. The artillery battalion "Prut", the engineering battalion "Codru", the communications regiment "Bessarabia" and the company of chemical protection can come to the aid of these formations. / MD National Army / Flickr

The Constitution of Moldova enshrines the neutral status of the country. However, in June 2015, former President Nicolae Timofti, at a meeting with US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, said that the National Army was moving to alliance standards. / MD National Army / Flickr

In addition to the political reasons for Moldova's cooperation with NATO, experts point to the desire of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova to replace Soviet equipment with Western weapons, and without burdening the budget. The share of defense spending in the structure of the GDP of the Republic of Moldova is 0.3%. / MD National Army / Flickr

The backbone of the combat power of the Moldovan army consists of two types of weapons: the 152-mm gun 2A36 "Hyacinth-B" shown in the photograph and the MLRS 9P140 "Hurricane" (now in storage). / MD National Army / Flickr

In February 2016, Chisinau won a $1.6 million US grant to develop training infrastructure. In February 2017, the Moldovan army received 34 Hammer armored vehicles from the US. Three years ago, the Pentagon donated 39 such machines to Chisinau. / MD National Army / Flickr

Deployed in Chisinau, a separate special-purpose battalion "Fulgerul" (Fulgerul) is considered the most combat-ready unit of the Moldovan army. The battalion consists of 300 fighters and includes a special forces company and an airborne company. / MD National Army / Flickr

The new president, Igor Dodon, has banned Moldovan military personnel from participating in NATO exercises at the Smyrdan training center in Romania. He also called on the ambassadors of the United States and Romania not to interfere in the affairs of the state. Political scientists took these words as a symbolic turn of Chisinau towards Moscow. /

It went relatively uneventful. The majority of the population of the republics, which were recently considered fraternal, supported the idea of ​​division into sovereign states in the hope that life would become easier, richer and more carefree. Exalted nationalists came to power in many newly formed countries, skillfully posing as adherents of democracy and the so-called "Western values".

Then the battles began, which arose in the expanses of the former USSR, either simultaneously, or with some interruption. They were vaguely called ethnic conflicts, but in terms of bloodshed they were not inferior to local wars. The calm and peaceful Moldova did not stand aside either. The leadership of the republic decided to establish the unity of power by force without taking into account some features of the country's historical development. In opposition to this military adventure, the Transnistrian army arose, which in a short time became the most combat-ready in the region and successfully repelled the attack. And what does it represent today, almost a quarter of a century later?

and Transnistria

Since the time of Dacia, Moldavia has not been a sovereign state. Most of the current territory belonged to royal Romania until 1940, and the national entity within the Soviet Ukraine had only the rights of autonomy. After two ultimatum notes sent by the government of the USSR, the Romanian leadership ceded all of Bessarabia, showing a certain prudence. Otherwise, the Red Army, no doubt, would have used force to expand the borders of the USSR. In early June 1940, the VII session of the USSR Armed Forces officially established as part of a common union state. The MSSR included 6 former Romanian counties and 6 districts of the Ukrainian SSR, which previously constituted the autonomous republic of the MASSR. After the war, the borders of Moldova moved, but only slightly. In the 1950s and 1980s, the national composition of the population of cities also changed significantly; specialists and military pensioners from other regions of the USSR moved to Tiraspol and Bendery. At the decisive moment of the confrontation, many of them formed the newly formed army of Transnistria.

year ninety one

In 1991, after gaining national independence, it turned out that a significant part of the population of Moldova dreams of reunification with Romania. Under this idea, a historical base was made, which included the myth of the supposedly existing brotherhood between two peoples, the great European, and another, smaller one. This theory was also supported by the almost complete identity of the languages, the commonality of the most widely professed religious denomination, and the similarity of many customs. However, there was something else. Elderly people remembered that in royal Romania the Moldavians were treated as some kind of creatures of a different sort, whose lot was mainly work in the field.

Nevertheless, the European idea took possession of the minds, and the Supreme Council seriously took up the issue of possible integration, without even asking if the “big brothers” wanted to unite with the “younger ones”. All this led to the fact that the inhabitants of Dubossary, Tiraspol and Bender expressed their disagreement with the course pursued by the ruling regime of the Republic of Moldova and created this new quasi-state formation that acquired all the attributes of a sovereign subject of international law, de jure not being such. In fact, the army of Transnistria (at that time it was called the Republican Guard) was created on September 24, 1991. Soon she had to fight.

War

Almost a year later, on June 19, 1992, the Moldovan leadership decided to restore the territorial integrity by force. The first clashes took place in Dubossary back in March 1991, now they took place on the outskirts of Bendery. The resistance of the Moldovan police and units of the armed forces was provided by the army of Transnistria, which in fact represents detachments of volunteer militias, on the side of which the Cossack units that arrived in the conflict region acted. The growth in the number of defenders was facilitated by the numerous casualties among the civilian population and the outrages of the attacking side. The 14th Army of the Russian Federation did not take part in Transnistria, but its weapons depots were taken under control by representatives of the Transnistrian Armed Forces. The result of the summer war was thousands of deaths on both sides, and a stalemate at the front. One of the first attempts to forcibly impose "love for the motherland", then, in 1992, demonstrated the complete impotence of the army's actions against the militias supported by the population. The lesson did not go to the future, such "operations" continue today.

First commanders

The Republican Guard was created under the leadership of the professional military of the Soviet school, which were all the commanders of the army in Transnistria. The first of them was the deputy commander of the Republican Guard, Colonel S.G. Borisenko, and then Stefan Kitsak, an Afghan veteran who had previously served in the 14th army of the deputy chief of staff. It was he who created the structure of the armed forces and carried out the first mobilization activities. In the autumn of 1992, he was replaced as Minister of Defense by S. G. Khazheev, also a highly qualified officer who devoted most of his life to serving in the Soviet Army. Under his leadership, the reorganization of the armed forces was carried out, as a result of which the army of Transnistria became a formidable force, superior in combat capability to the main probable regional adversary, despite the fact that it is armed with obsolete weapons produced back in the USSR. At present, the armed forces of Moldova, judging by their modest size and weapons, have abandoned attempts to military solution of the territorial problem.

Likely adversary

The Romanian army did not fight in Transnistria, but the officers of this country, as well as the volunteers who arrived, most likely provided assistance in planning the "liberation campaign". In the years that have passed since the summer war of 1992, many officers of the armed forces of Moldova have been trained in the Russian Federation. The result of this advanced training, however, is small, since the models of weapons that are in fact at the disposal of the national army have long been outdated. The military academy Alexandru cel Bun in Chisinau is considered the main forge of command personnel. The National Army of Moldova (NAM) includes two types of troops (ground and air forces), its personnel does not exceed four and a half thousand military personnel. Organizationally, NAM is divided into three brigades:

- "Moldova" (Balti).

- "Stefan cel Mare" (Chisinau).

- "Dacia" (Cahul).

Also, the Moldovan army includes a peacekeeping battalion (22nd), through which almost everyone who has served the first six months “passes” (in total, they are mobilized for a year).

There are no tanks in the Moldovan army; planes and helicopters are presented more symbolically.

The military structure of the active PMR Armed Forces

The army of Transnistria looks more impressive in all respects, the number of which is 7.5 thousand people. The complete set is made according to draft and contract principles. The organizational structure as a whole resembles the Moldovan one, with a support-regional dislocation. Brigades (divisions) are deployed in the four largest cities (Tiraspol, Bendery, Dubossary and Rybnitsa). In each of them - three motorized rifle battalions, which, in turn, consist of four companies. In addition, the brigade includes a mortar battery and separate platoons (engineering and communications). The total number of each division is approximately one and a half thousand military personnel.

Tanks and artillery

The trophies of the summer war of 1992, which the army stationed in Transnistria did not have time to withdraw, became the source of weapons for the PMR Armed Forces. Tanks are represented by three types (T-72, T-64B and T-55), their total number is estimated at seven dozen, but in good condition, according to experts, there are no more than 18.

There is also heavy artillery, which includes 40 BM-21 Grad systems, three dozen cannons and howitzers, as well as mortars of various calibers, Shilka ZSU and self-propelled guns.

In addition to heavy weapons, the PMR army also has compact weapons at its disposal, which have proven their effectiveness in the course of conflicts of recent decades - MANPADS ("Strela", "Igla", "Duga"), RPG grenade launchers (7, 18, 22, 26, 27) and SPG-9. To combat armored vehicles (which Moldova practically does not have, with the exception of infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles), anti-tank guided missiles "Fagot", "Malyutka" and "Competition" are intended.

Aviation

The fact that the PMR has its own people is reminded by parades held on public holidays, during which the army of Pridnestrovie is shown to citizens. The composition and technical fleet, however, looks quite modest. There are not many planes and helicopters in total, 29, among them the honored workers An-2 and An-26, designed for cargo and transport transportation or landing paratroopers (the Airborne Forces are also available), and sports Yak-18s.

In the conditions of modern combat, direct support to the troops can be provided by rotary-winged vehicles, also still of Soviet production, which, however, are in service with many other countries - the Mi-24, Mi-8 and Mi-2.

With regard to the Air Force, Moldova formally has superiority, it has MiG-29 interceptor attack aircraft, however, there are few of them left, especially in good condition. Most of the Soviet combat vehicles were sold abroad.

Reserve

There is another important aspect in which the armed forces of Moldova and the army of Transnistria differ significantly. The strength of the TMR Armed Forces in the event of a threat can increase by more than ten times due to the mobilization of reservists. Retraining courses for officers and privates of the reserve, as well as their fees, are held regularly, and for the most part, those liable for military service do not seek to evade them, including those who hold high positions in power structures. In addition, there is a separate Cossack regiment, units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB. Separate special battalions "Delta" and "Dniester" are staffed by well-trained professionals, another one, related to the police, is also considered elite. For comparison, the total mobilization reserve of Moldova is approaching one hundred thousand people, although the outflow of citizens from the country is very high, and it is difficult to objectively assess it both quantitatively and qualitatively. Collections and training of reservists in the country has not been carried out for many years.

What are the Russians doing in Transnistria?

The Russian army in Transnistria was introduced in 1992 as part of the peacekeeping forces. The local population greeted her as their saviors, and although the soldiers of the RF Armed Forces did not take part directly in the hostilities, Pridnestrovie owes its victory to a large extent to them. If before the collapse of the USSR, the 14th Army was a super-powerful strike force, today it is almost completely withdrawn to the territory of the Russian Federation. The total in Transnistria currently does not prosvetite three thousand military personnel and thousands of civilian civilians. A significant proportion of them are local residents who have taken citizenship and the oath of the Russian Federation. What do they do and what service do they serve?

peacekeepers

The peacekeeping battalion, present in Transnistria under the OSCE mandate, has 335 Russian servicemen. In addition to them, representatives of the armed forces of Moldova (453 people), PMR (490 people) and observers from Ukraine (10 people) carry out joint control of the situation.

For all the time that has passed since the introduction of peacekeeping forces into the conflict zone, not a single case of the use of weapons has been recorded, not a single person has died.

The small size of the composition and its purely divisive functions serve as a serious argument against the assumptions proclaimed by Moldovan, and more recently by Ukrainian nationalists, about the allegedly aggressive nature of the Russian presence in the region.

Warehouse Security No. 1411

The Russian army in Transnistria performs another important task. Not far from Rybnitsa there is the village of Kolbasna, which would be an unremarkable settlement if it were not for the monstrous size of an ammunition depot with an area of ​​130 hectares in its vicinity. Here are bombs, shells and many other military equipment taken from Eastern Europe and stored from earlier times. The total weight of the explosives contained in the ammunition exceeds 20 kilotons, that is, in terms of power it approaches the atomic bomb "Kid" dropped on Hiroshima. Nobody knows what to do with this dangerous cargo today. Storage conditions worsen every year, the container is often destroyed. The same number had already been neutralized earlier, but the times were calmer then.

The 83rd and 113th separate guards motorized rifle and the 540th command and control battalion do not allow a terrible catastrophe to happen.

What's next?

Today, Transnistria is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between hostile countries, Moldova and Ukraine, which have effectively declared a blockade against the unrecognized republic. In this situation, the TMR army is on high alert. Another armed conflict on the territory of the former USSR, besides it, is prevented by only one force - the peacekeepers. The second attempt to integrate Transnistria into Moldova could turn into a big disaster. The question of how effectively the TMR army will be able to operate is not paramount today. The main thing is to avoid war altogether.

How are the Moldovan military equipped and trained
23 years ago, on September 3, 1991, the first president of the country, Mircea Snegur, issued decree No. 193 "On the formation of the armed forces." This date has become an official holiday of the National Army. NM understood that after more than two decades, the army of Moldova is, the need for the existence of which is called into question from time to time.
The first defense department of independent Moldova was the State Department of Military Affairs, which was headed by the future adviser to President Mircea Snegur, Nicolae Chirtoaca, who later worked as Moldova's ambassador to the United States. On November 18, the text of the military oath was approved, and on January 10, 1992, the draft military doctrine of Moldova was published.

On February 5, 1992, the Ministry of Defense of Moldova was created on the basis of the Department of Military Affairs. Its first leader was General Ion Kostash, who headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic before moving to the defense department. This year, the ministry was headed by the ninth minister, General Valery Troenko.

Legs
The National Army (NA) of Moldova consists of two types of armed forces: Land and Air Forces. The total number of the National Army now does not exceed 4.5 thousand people. The basis of the combat power of the ground forces is made up of three combined arms formations (motorized infantry brigades - MPBR). The first - Moldova is deployed in Balti, the second - Stefan cel Mare in Chisinau and the third brigade - Dacia in Cahul.

The motorized infantry brigade of the Nationalist Army of Moldova includes a command and headquarters, three motorized infantry battalions (on BMD-1, armored personnel carriers or on vehicles), a howitzer artillery battalion, an anti-tank battalion (one or two batteries of anti-tank guns and a battery of anti-tank guided missiles - ATGM), a battalion air defense - batteries of anti-aircraft installations (ZU) 23-2 and portable anti-aircraft missile systems, reconnaissance, communications, engineering, chemical protection, repair, logistics, artillery reconnaissance and communications batteries; medical center, orchestra, range.

The metropolitan brigade Stefan cel Mare is considered the most complete: it is equipped with the most powerful weapons and the best military equipment.

Also in Chisinau are deployed:

The 22nd battalion of the peacekeeping forces "Blue Helmets" is a military unit, on the basis of which personnel are trained for participation in international peacekeeping operations;
- Fulger special forces battalion (not to be confused with the police special forces of the same name) - the best and most trained military unit of the National Army;
- security battalion with a guard of honor company;
- communications battalion.

The military academy Alexandru cel Bun and the Central Military Hospital are also located in the capital.

Not far from Chisinau, in the village of Bachoi, there is the Base for the storage and repair of equipment and weapons of the National Army. The engineering battalion Codru is stationed in the village of Negreshty. At the military base in Ungheni, where the Prut artillery brigade was previously located, now there is a division of 152-mm guns 2A36 "Hyacinth-B": three artillery batteries with six guns each (three more "Hyacinths" are constantly located at the Bulboaka training ground). A division of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) 9P140 "Uragan" is also kept here - two batteries of four installations.

The current status of the Hurricanes has not been fully determined. According to unconfirmed reports, the reactive systems are being prepared for sale, since the republic does not need such powerful weapons. According to other information, the "Hurricanes" will be brought into combat readiness and will return to the combat composition of the NA artillery. It is known for sure that this year Moldova did not declare the available Uragan MLRS as being in service.

The main field training base of the army is the Bulboaka training ground. There are also polygons in Balti, Cahul and Dancheny.

In addition, after the end of the active phase of the conflict on the Dniester, a contingent of the National Army was formed as part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (SMS) in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. Now 500 servicemen serve in this contingent. It consists of a directorate, a group of military observers, a support and communications unit (Bendery, SMS headquarters), two motorized infantry battalions (in the villages of Koshnitsa and Kochiery) and a separate motorized infantry company (Varnitsa village).

In fact, the bulk of the NA's human resources are spent on completing the VMS. Military conscripts from all three motorized infantry brigades, having mastered the military specialty and served the first six months, in full force, with the exception of drivers, mechanics and those selected for sergeant positions, are sent to serve the remaining six months in the peacekeeping forces. Thus, it can be stated that almost the majority of the military personnel of the Republic of Moldova have experience of participating in international peacekeeping activities.

Wings
The NA air force consists of the Decebal airbase at the Marculesti airfield and the anti-aircraft missile regiment (until recently it was a brigade) Dimitrie Cantemir. The regiment is armed with 12 launchers of the S-125 Neva anti-aircraft missile system. The installations of the S-200 long-range complex, apparently, have been withdrawn from service due to the deterioration of the material and technical base of missile weapons.

Several companies of radar surveillance are also dispersed across the territory of the republic, which, with some periodicity, are on combat duty. Anti-aircraft gunners have not carried out practical missile launches for more than a decade.

In accordance with international verification data, the National Army has two AN-72 military transport aircraft, one AN-26, two AN-2, one Yak-18T trainer and six MI-8 helicopters of various modifications. The helicopters are outside the country, as they are involved in international humanitarian operations abroad. The crews of the vehicles are staffed by Moldovan citizens who have a specialized education, but are not military personnel of the National Army.

Also, the Moldovan Defense Ministry has six MIG-29 front-line fighters, which are in need of repair and are periodically put up for sale.

Trunks
The National Army does not have the main weapon of modern combined arms combat - tanks. For comparison: the armed forces of the unrecognized Transnistria have about 18 T-64B tanks. There are two more active T-34s, restored and used during parades and for some reason listed on the balance sheet of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs. Moldova also does not have nuclear, chemical, biological weapons, strategic, operational-tactical missiles and short-range missiles.

In total, to date, the National Army is armed with:

Combat vehicles BMD-1 - 44 units (including command vehicles);
- self-propelled artillery mounts 2S9 "Nona" - 9;
- self-propelled launchers of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) "Konkurs" - 21 (based on the BRDM-2);
- armored personnel carriers (BTR-80) - 11;
- TAB-71 - 89;
- BTR-D - 9;
- MT-LB - 55;
- armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicles (BRDM-2rx) - 15;
- 152-mm guns 2A36 "Hyacinth-B" - 21;
- 152-mm howitzers D-20 - 31;
- 122-mm howitzers M-30 - 17;
- 120-mm mortars PM-120 - 7;
- 82-mm mortars - 52;
- 57-mm anti-aircraft guns S-60 - 11 units;
- 23-mm anti-aircraft installations (ZU) 23-2 - 28;
- 100-mm anti-tank guns MT-12 "Rapier" - 36;
- easel anti-tank grenade launchers (SPG-9) "Spear" - 138;
- launchers ATGM "Fagot" - more than 70.

There is a sufficient number of hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and small arms (mainly made in the USSR): machine guns, machine guns, sniper rifles, pistols and a supply of ammunition for them.

Ammunition for all types of weapons was inherited by the National Army from the USSR and was not updated during the entire period of Moldova's independence. Also, there were no purchases of weapons and military equipment. Every year, the so-called control firing of ammunition is carried out at the ranges in Moldova. Thus, the resource of their storage and use is officially extended. According to NM, most rocket munitions cannot be used, and most artillery shells and mines can only be used in case of hostilities.

Losses
Over the years of its existence, the National Army voluntarily abandoned part of the weapons and equipment. At the beginning of the 2000s, as part of the implementation of the “Convention on the Ban of Anti-Personnel Mine” (signed by Moldova in 2000, entered into force in 2001), the National Army completely got rid of stockpiles of anti-personnel mines.

Of the 32 MIG-29 fighters inherited after the collapse of the USSR, Moldova sold 25: four to Yemen in 1992, 21 to the United States in 1997. One combat training aircraft was transferred to Romania to pay off debts. Also, 18 launchers of the S-75 Dvina anti-aircraft missile system were sold to Romania.

A certain amount of small arms was sold (according to the investigation of the parliamentary commission conducted in 2002 - at least 500 units) and various ammunition, including aircraft missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, ammunition for the Uragan MLRS, etc.

In 2013, 21 self-propelled ATGM launchers 9P149 Shturm-S based on MT-LB and a stock of missiles for them were sold to Ukraine.

In various years, the Prut artillery brigade, a separate anti-tank division (it was equipped with the very Shturm-S ATGMs that Ukraine got), a separate material support battalion (a military unit unique in its kind that carried out cargo transportation across the CIS and neighboring countries) were liquidated ), a separate company of chemical protection, a separate company of radio intelligence and electronic warfare.

The Air Force was left without an anti-aircraft missile brigade (it was reorganized into a regiment), a mixed aviation brigade and a mixed aviation squadron (stationed at the Chisinau airfield).

Various real estate and lands that were on the balance sheet of the Moldovan defense department were transferred to new owners or sold on a commercial basis. And some objects are simply abandoned, for example, the bunker of the reserve command post of the Headquarters of the southwestern direction of the USSR Ministry of Defense in Oleshkany.

Features of national training
The training of the military personnel of the National Army is based on a combination of methods inherited from the Soviet Army and adopted from Western countries. Taking into account that the term of service on conscription is only 12 months, half of which most conscripts spend as part of the SMS, that is, outside the points of permanent deployment of units and formations, it can be stated that the main resource of the army is the officer corps, sub-officers and contract sergeants . It is they who preserve weapons and equipment, transfer experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of military affairs.

Basic training of officers is carried out at the military academy Alexandru cel Bun. In addition, until recently, Moldovan military personnel had the opportunity to study in military educational institutions of foreign countries: the USA, Germany, China, France, Greece, Romania and the Russian Federation.

Until 2007, officers of the National Army were admitted to Russian military academies for various courses free of charge and on a non-competitive basis (later this practice ceased). Thus, along with graduates of, for example, the Command and Staff College of the US Armed Forces and the Naval Institute of the US Navy, senior officers who graduated from the Military Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation or the Academy of Logistics and Transportation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation serve in the National Army.

In the armies of more developed countries, the military is trained on modern technology, weapons and equipment. There are cases when graduates of prestigious military educational institutions of the West, returning to Moldova, faced the problem of complete ignorance of weapons and equipment prevailing in the region.

It should also be noted that in Moldova there is a complete absence of a system for training and maintaining a military-trained reserve. Over the past two decades, the National Army has never held military training with assigned personnel. And this despite the fact that nominally the mobilization resource of Moldova goes off scale for 100 thousand people.

In Transnistria, for example, military training camps with assigned staff are held regularly. Moreover, Pridnestrovian officials and deputies of various levels take part in them. In fact, in Moldova, with the presence of the army, there is completely no system of mobilization readiness, which forms the basis of the defense of any state. A similar situation, by the way, was in neighboring Ukraine.

Nikolay Barchevsky, military expert, specially for NewsMaker

In order for people to be happy, they need a strong Motherland,” said Leonid Keosky in the 5th century BC. uh..

Over the course of three articles, I tell readers about NATO's policy of double standards and behind-the-scenes military policy of Moldova, which in fact is no longer Moldovan, but the purest water about NATO. In this article, we will see step by step who exactly was interested in reducing the combat capability of the Moldovan army and what is behind it.

Geographical position of Moldova.
Moldova is located in the extreme southwest of the East European Plain, in the second time zone, and occupies most of the interfluve of the Dniester and Prut, as well as a narrow strip of the left bank of the Dniester in its middle and lower reaches. Having no access to the sea, the country geographically gravitates towards the Black Sea region, while Moldova has access to the Danube (the length of the coastline is 600 m).
In the north, east and south, Moldova borders on Ukraine, in the west - on Romania. The area of ​​the country is 33.7 thousand km². The territory of Moldova extends from north to south for 350 km, from west to east - for 150 km. The extreme points of the country: in the north - the village of Naslavcha (48 ° 29 "N), in the south - the village of Giurgiulesti (45 ° 28" N), in the west - the village of Kriva (26 ° 30 "E). ), in the east - the village of Palanka (30 ° 05 "E).

Population

According to estimates, as of January 1, 2008, the population of the Republic of Moldova amounted to 3572.7 thousand people. (excluding the PMR and the municipality of Bendery). In 2007, an average of 3576.90 thousand people lived in Moldova
The population of the Republic of Moldova, according to the 2004 census, amounted to 3395.6 thousand people (census data do not take into account the population of the territories administered by the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic). Of these, 3158.0 thousand, or 93.3% of the population, are Orthodox. The population density is 111.4 people. per km².

The population of the Republic of Moldova is multinational and multicultural. The bulk of the population, or 75.8%, (according to the 2004 census) are Moldovans. They also live: Ukrainians - 8.4%, Russians - 5.9%, Gagauz - 4.4%, Romanians - 2.2%, Armenians - 0.8%, Jews - 0.7%. The national representation of Moldovans in the armed forces is 85%.

Armed forces of Moldova after the collapse of the USSR

On September 4, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR adopted. Decree on the suspension of the USSR Law of October 12, 1967 "On universal military duty" on the territory of the MSSR. The first stage in the formation of the National Army of Moldova as an independent state was the decree of the President of Moldova No. 193 of September 3, 1991 "On the formation of the Armed Forces". According to the Constitution of Moldova of 1994 and the National Security Concept, the military security of the country is ensured by its armed forces.
As of July 1992, the total strength of the Moldovan armed forces is estimated at 25,000-35,000, including policemen, reservists and volunteers. After the collapse of the USSR, Moldova got 32 (according to other sources 34) MiG-29 fighters from the 86th Fighter Regiment of the USSR Black Sea Fleet (Marculesti airfield), which after the collapse of the USSR came under the jurisdiction of Moldova.
06/23/1992 - 1 aircraft was allegedly shot down during the Transnistrian conflict.
1992 - Moldova ceded 1 aircraft to Romania. The documents do not include the price of the aircraft. According to the chairman of the special parliamentary commission, Yuri Stoikov, former high-ranking Moldovan military officials admitted that the plane was given over "on account of Moldova's debts to Romania for assistance rendered during the 1992 military conflict."
1994 - 4 aircraft sold to the Republic of Yemen.
1997 - 21 aircraft (of which only six are airworthy) sold to the United States. On January 17, 2005, former Defense Minister Valeriu Pasat was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling planes to the United States. He was accused that as a result of this transaction, the state lost more than 50 million dollars.
Early 1994 year the Moldovan army (only parts of the Moscow Region) consisted of 9800 people consisting of 3 motorized rifle brigade, 1 artillery brigade and 1 reconnaissance battalion. In service there were, among other things, 18 122-mm and 53 152-mm towed artillery systems, 9 "Non", 17 "Bassoons", 19 "Competitions", 27 9P149 "Shturm-S", one SPG-9, 45 MT guns -12, 30 ZU-23-2 and 12 S-60. The Air Force of Moldova in 1994 consisted of 1300 people in 1 IAP, 1 helicopter squadron and 1 zrbr. It was armed with 31 MiG-29 fighters, 8 Mi-8, 5 military transport aircraft, including one An-72, and 25 S-125 air defense systems and 65 S-200 missiles. In 1998, more than 1.145 million people were considered fit for military service.
For 2007. number The National Army of the Republic of Moldova is estimated at 6.5 thousand military personnel and 2 thousand civilian personnel. It consists of ground forces and air force / air defense. The combat strength includes:
- 1st motorized infantry brigade (Balti): according to the states of wartime 1500 people, in peacetime 785 people;
- 2nd motorized infantry brigade "Stefan cel Mare" (Chisinau): according to the states of wartime 1600 people, in peacetime 915 people;
- 3rd motorized infantry brigade "Dacia" (Cahul): according to the states of wartime 1500 people, in peacetime 612 people;
- artillery brigade "Prut" (Ungheni) according to the state of wartime 1000 people, in peacetime 381 people;
- communications regiment (Chisinau);
- Special Purpose Battalion "Fulger" (Chisinau);
- engineer-sapper battalion (Negreshty);
- logistics battalion (Balti);
- Security and Service Battalion of the Ministry of Defense (Chisinau);
The Armed Forces are in service (2007 estimate):
- BMD-1 and vehicles based on them - more than 50;
- BTR-60 (BTR-60PB, etc.) - about 200;
- BTR-80 -11;
- BTR-D -11;
- MT-LB - more than 50;
- 2S9 "Nona-S" - 9;

152-mm gun-howitzers D-20 - about 40;
- 152-mm guns 2A36 "Hyacinth-B" - 21;
- 122-mm howitzers M-30 - 18;
- MLRS 9P140 "Hurricane" -11;
- 120-mm mortars M-120 - 60;
- 82-mm mortars of various types -79;
- 100-mm anti-tank guns MT-12 "Rapier" - 45;
- self-propelled launchers 9P149 ATGM "Shturm-S" -27;
- self-propelled launchers 9P148 ATGM "Competition" -19;
- PU ATGM "Fagot" -71;
- LNG-9 "Spear" - about 140;
- ZU-23-2 - 32;
- 57-mm anti-aircraft guns S-60 - 12;
- MANPADS "Strela2", "Strela-3" - about 120.
The number of personnel of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the National Army of the Republic of Moldova is 1.05 thousand people (2007). The combat strength includes:
- air base "Decebal" (Markulesti): approx. 450 people, 5 Mi-8 and 6 unused MiG-29 fighters. As of 2007, 6 MiG-29 fighters remained at the airfield in Marculesti. Everything is in working order.
- a separate mixed aviation squadron (Chisinau): approx. 200 people, 5 An-2, 3 An-24 and An-26, 3 An-72, 5 PZL-104 "Vilga-35" and 1 Yak-18T, 3 Mi- 8, 4 Mi-2;
- government air link: Tu-134 and Yak-42 passenger planes;
- anti-aircraft missile brigade "Dmitrie Cantemir" (covers Chisinau): 470 people, 12 launchers of S-200 air defense systems, 18 launchers of S-75 air defense systems, 16 launchers of S-125 air defense systems.

Position for 2010
According to the IISS The Military Balance for 2010, the Ground Forces of the Republic of Moldova had the following equipment at their disposal:

Type

Production

Purpose

Quantity

Notes

infantry fighting vehicles

armored personnel carriers

Multiple launch rocket systems

Artillery systems

Anti-tank weapons

anti-tank gun

anti-aircraft gun caliber 23 mm

anti-aircraft gun caliber 57 mm

The air defense forces are practically drained of blood - air defense systems are decommissioned by 80% due to their technical condition and service life, as well as due to the low training of missile officers, the quality of training at the Military Academy of Moldova and the Military Academies of Romania.
The same situation is observed in aviation. The lack of aircraft, the dismissal of officers with experience in flight and flight combat work led to a disastrous situation for the unit. The flight training center at the Chisinau airfield does not provide enough flight and combat practice for cadets on sports aircraft.
At the moment, the authorized strength of the armed forces of Moldova fluctuates around 15,000 people. Of these, the National Army - 6 thousand people, the border troops, excluding full-time employees of the SIS - 3,500 people, the carabinieri corps - 5 thousand people. Department of Civil Protection and Emergencies - 1500 people. The Armed Forces also include the military-trained reserve of the National Army, the border troops, the carabinieri corps and all paramilitary formations of the Department of Civil Protection and Emergencies.
Mobilization resources from the reserve, numbering about 300 thousand people, cannot be considered combat-ready and prepared for mobilization, due to its dispersal across European countries and low moral and psychological state.
After the NATO Secretary General's visit to Chisinau in January 1999, a decision was made to reduce the size of the army from 10 thousand to 6.5 thousand people.
In the future, it is NATO that will initiate various options for "military reforms" in Moldova. The leadership of the National Defense and Defense Ministry of Moldova, who thoughtlessly adopted these reform models, in fact reduced the country's defense capability and brought the army to the brink of collapse by 2011. Such actions speak of a gross violation of the national interests and defense capability of the country, which implies criminal liability.

Personnel and officers
A hackneyed expression - frames decide everything. Let's consider the real and not the parade state of affairs in this area. The training of officer cadres for the National Army is carried out en masse at the Military College of the Ministry of Defense "Alexandru cel Bun" (currently the Military Academy). Many Moldovan military personnel are trained in military educational institutions abroad, primarily in NATO countries, these are Romania, Turkey, France, Great Britain, Germany, the USA and so on. More than 250 people were trained in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. However, due to the short-sightedness of some Moldovan politicians, at various times military personnel were subjected to purges for political reasons. Until 2000, emphasis was placed on the dismissal of Soviet officers from the ranks of the Armed Forces, as carriers of Soviet military thinking, which did not fit in with NATO's personnel policy. After 2000, there was a wave of dismissals of officers with a Western education, against the backdrop of V. Voronin's Romanian-phobic sentiments. In both cases, this hit hard on the moral and psychological state of the officers. Starting in 1992 and up to 2010, the army practiced the assignment of officer ranks to former warrant officers, according to clan and kinship. This additionally hit the prestige of the officer rank, since people from this military class did not have sufficient military knowledge and military culture. From 1995 until 2009 young lieutenants, graduates of various educational institutions are dismissed en masse from military service (up to 80%), seeing no prospects for either material or career growth. Practice has shown that graduates of Romanian educational institutions do not have the professional skills to start a career. Since 2004 the institute of political police is being introduced in the army, pursuing dissident officers. With the change of the ruling class in 2009, the institute of political police represented by the Directorate of Information and Analysis (Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense) changed the vector of action and continues to clean up the morale of the officers. The Military Prosecutor's Office of Moldova also played an important role in weakening the moral and psychological state of the army. On the basis of petty offenses, many combat and competent officers were repressed on trumped-up cases, while the high-profile crimes of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense remain covered up to this day (the example of Minister V. Marinuts, who allowed the Romanian special services to the lettered communication channels of the Ministry of Defense). The military reform of 2009-2010 carried out by the Alliance had a catastrophic effect on the financial situation and benefits of contracted military personnel. The absence of a coherent, scientifically substantiated personnel policy determines the low morale and psychological state of officer cadres.

Contacts with NATO.

The first consultations of the Republic of Moldova with the North Atlantic Alliance took place after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on December 20, 1991, and after 1992 they have a clearly anti-Russian accent against the backdrop of the Transnistrian conflict.
On January 6, 1994, at the highest level of the North Atlantic Alliance, the American initiative "Partnership for Peace" was considered, and the President of the Republic of Moldova expressed his personal interest in this. On March 6, 1994, in Brussels, the President of the Republic of Moldova and the NATO Secretary General signed the Partnership for Peace agreement. In order to coordinate more effective NATO activities, on December 16, 1997, a NATO mission was established in the Republic of Moldova.
In 1999, a project was completed to create an information network of the Academy of Sciences with NATO with the financial support of the "Information Network of the Polytechnic Community." The Polytechnic University of Moldova received financial support from the Alliance. In June, with the support of NATO, the RENAM Association was established for educational and informational purposes. Thus, scientific researchers from Moldova not only received scholarships in Italy, Canada and other countries, but also any scientific discoveries became under the control of the United States. The visit of President V. Voronin to NATO Headquarters on June 28, 2001 was another step towards signing a new Memorandum with NATO in the field of technical support and logistical cooperation.

2002 at the intergovernmental level, a decision was made to deploy the US Military Intelligence Center (ANB) on the territory of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova. From that moment on, not only the Armed Forces, but also the political leadership of the country fell under technical and doctrinal dependence on the United States. On October 3, 2007, a solemn opening ceremony of the NATO Information and Documentation Center took place in Chisinau. The individual action plan of the Moldova-NATO partnership provides for the reform of the entire security and defense system of the country on the principles of NATO and the transfer of the National Army of Moldova until 2010 to the standards of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Conclusion. The military conflict of 1992, hastily prepared by foreign advisers and thoughtlessly put into practice by Moldovan politicians, continues to influence the mass consciousness of the population of the Republic of Moldova, determining the regression of the military institution of Moldova. Permanent military reforms proposed by NATO have brought the armed forces to the brink of disintegration, low readiness and limited functionality. The top leadership of the Defense Ministry has lost feedback from the military units. Parts are practically unaware of the significance of the leadership of the General Staff and the Moscow Region. The lack of a well-thought-out personnel policy of the Ministry of Defense for many years led to unacceptable abuses in the education of officer cadres. The current leadership of the Defense Ministry, busy with political defiles, has lost a sense of reality in relation to junior officers and contract servicemen in general. The significance of social and psychological attitudes as the basis for the cohesion of the military organism is ignored. The thoughtless and forced adoption of foreign doctrines, without taking into account national psychological characteristics, led society as a whole to doubt about the need for armed forces. At this stage, the Moldovan Armed Forces are not capable of fulfilling the limited tasks of protecting national interests and how a European military force can be ignored. (Excluding ordinary, minor and small operations within the UN or NATO). Technologically and qualitatively, the armament of the NA does not ensure the pace of the transience of modern combat. The morale and psychological state of the personnel of the NA, the carabinieri, the police, is low and cannot serve as a basis for conducting hostilities for more than 1 day. Mobilization resources are practically not mobilized due to political apathy. Moldova is essentially at the final stage of joining NATO. Chisinau's next predicted step will be a political statement that Moldova cannot ensure national security and democratic gains, as a result of which Chisinau asks NATO to provide the necessary defense of Moldova. In the future, it is the weak Armed Forces of Moldova that will be the main destabilizing factor in the region. It was the political class of Moldova corrupted by the West in 1992-2011 that brought the country's defense capability to the stage of inadequacy to national threats. It is the political class of Moldova 1992-2011 that is the destabilizing factor in the region. Emergence of a third, stable political force In Moldova, scientifically and doctrinally substantiated, it is only a matter of 2-3 years. Those who already today offer themselves in Moldova as a third political force is a mimicry that does not deserve attention. The troubled times of Moldova will continue until 2014. Any void that has arisen tends to be filled……...

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For more than a year there has been a war in the East of Ukraine. Rumors have been circulating lately that Russia might open a "second front" from the Transnistrian region and capture Odessa. Given that Ukraine has banned Russian military transit to Moldova through its territory, as well as Russia's interest in further destabilizing Ukraine, these rumors look quite plausible. The situation is aggravated by the total dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian authorities of the population in general and the inhabitants of Odessa in particular. It is not clear how Poroshenko hopes to improve the situation by appointing Mikhail Saakashvili, the governor of Odessa, who enjoys a very controversial reputation among the local population.
Against this background, Ukrainian relations with Moldova become very important-- . We must be aware that Romania, on the contrary, is interested in weakening Ukraine and Moldova, with a view to the subsequent annexation of the right-bank Moldova, as well as some regions of Ukraine - Bukavina and the Izmail region. Which, until 1940, were part of the Romanian kingdom, and where Romanians compactly live in several areas, making up the vast majority of the population.

Let's see what the armed forces of Moldova are now.

The armed forces are staffed with conscripts and contract volunteers. The term of service on conscription is 12 months. The age of conscription into the army is 18 years, for voluntary service - 17. The number of armed forces is 6.5 thousand military personnel and 2.3 thousand civilians. The number of men aged 16 to 49 fit for service for health reasons is about 875 thousand. Every year up to 30,000 men reach military age. The number of trained reservists is about 300 thousand.
military budget$30.4 million a year.
- 1st motorized infantry brigade (Balti): according to the states of wartime 1500 people, in peacetime 785 people;
- 2nd motorized infantry brigade "Stefan cel Mare" (Chisinau): according to the states of wartime 1600 people, in peacetime 915 people;
- 3rd motorized infantry brigade "Dacia" (Cahul): according to the states of wartime 1500 people, in peacetime 612 people;

Each Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Nationalist Army of Moldova includes a command and staff, three motorized infantry battalions (on BMD-1, armored personnel carriers or on vehicles), a howitzer artillery battalion, an anti-tank battalion (one or two batteries of anti-tank guns and a battery of anti-tank guided missiles - ATGM), air defense division - batteries of anti-aircraft installations (ZU) 23-2 and portable anti-aircraft missile systems, reconnaissance, communications, engineering, chemical protection, repair, logistics, artillery reconnaissance and communications batteries; medical center, orchestra, range.

Artillery brigade "Prut" (Ungheni) according to the states of wartime 1000 people, in peacetime 381 people;
- communications regiment (Chisinau);
- Special Purpose Battalion "Fulger" (Chisinau, not to be confused with the battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs): 321 people in peacetime, consists of a special purpose company and an airborne company.
- engineer-sapper battalion (Negresht);
- logistics battalion (Balti) - 65 people;
- Security and Service Battalion of the Ministry of Defense (Chisinau);

Moldovan ground forces are armed with

• armored vehicles: 44 BMD-1, 9 BTR-D, 55 MT-LB armored tractors, 11 BTR-80, 91 TAB-71 (Romanian modification of the Soviet BER-60 armored personnel carrier), 43 American HMMWV jeeps.
• artillery systems: 11 MLRS "Uragan", 9 120-mm self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona-S", 31 152-mm gun-howitzer D-20, 21 152-mm gun 2A36 "Gyatsint-B", 17 122-mm howitzers of the sample 1938 (M-30), 7 120-mm American M120 mortars and 52 American 82-mm mortars.
• anti-tank weapons of the system: 71 RTRK "Fagot", 19 9M113 "Competition", 27 ATGM "Shturm", 138 SPG-9, 36 100-mm anti-tank guns MT-12.
• anti-aircraft armament of the ground forces 26 ZU-23-2 and 26 anti-aircraft guns of 57 mm S-60 caliber.

The Air Force of the Republic of Moldova consists of 826 people.
The Air Force consists of the Decebal air base in Marculesti and a separate mixed aviation squadron in Chisinau, equipped only with transport aircraft.
They are armed with six MiG-29s and require repairs. The Air Force has at its disposal 2 An-72, 1 An-26 and 1 An-2 transport vehicles, as well as eight Mi-8MTV-1 and Mi-8PS helicopters, two Mi-2s.

The Air Force of Moldova includes the air defense brigade "Dmitrie Cantemir" (Chisinau). It is armed with 12 S-200, 18 S-75 and 16 S-125 air defense systems. Currently, only 12 S-125 anti-aircraft missile systems are combat-ready.

The Carabinieri troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova are subordinate to the Department of Carabinieri Troops. It has five thousand people. Internal troops consist of the command of troops, brigades (regiments) and territorial battalions. They have 19 armored vehicles.
About a thousand people and only contract servicemen serve in the Fulger Special Purpose Carabinieri Brigade (Chisinau).

The military academy Alexandru cel Bun and the Central Military Hospital are also located in the capital.

Not far from Chisinau, in the village of Bachoi, there is the Base for the storage and repair of equipment and weapons of the National Army. The engineering battalion Codru is stationed in the village of Negreshty. At the military base in Ungheni, where the Prut artillery brigade was previously located, there is now a division of 152-mm guns 2A36 "Hyacinth-B": three artillery batteries with six guns each (three more "Hyacinths" are constantly located at the Bulboaka training ground). A division of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) 9P140 "Uragan" is also kept here - two batteries of four installations.

The main field training base of the army is the Bulboaka training ground. There are also polygons in Balti, Cahul and Dancheny.

The border troops of the Republic of Moldova number 2.4 thousand people. They are subdivided into Northern, Western, Southern and Eastern regional directorates with eight border commandant's offices and 65 border outposts. For patrolling the river sections of the state border, two Finnish boats Finn Fighter, transferred by the Latvian Maritime Border Guard, are used.

The Danube forces of Moldavia are extremely small and have rather a symbolic meaning. Located in the port of Giurgiulesti. They have at their disposal several unarmed boats of various types and auxiliary watercraft.