Transnistrian War: 33 years since bloody Tighina battle
Today marks 33 years since the Battle of Tighina (Bender) began, a pivotal and brutal engagement during the 1992 Transnistrian War.
It was here that the most intense and bloody clashes occurred between Moldovan forces and Transnistrian separatists, who were backed by the 14th Army of the Russian Federation. To commemorate this event, deputies observed a minute of silence for those who perished in the fighting and never returned home.
"Thirty-three years ago, on June 19, at 10 AM, tanks of the 14th Army began their assault, attacking the city of Tighina. In that fierce battle, officers, soldiers, and civilians alike lost their lives. We will forever remember this day as a dark day for the Republic of Moldova. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask, if possible, for us to observe a minute of silence for those who did not return from the battlefield," stated PAS deputy Boris Marcoci during the Parliament's plenary session.
The Battle of Tighina (Bender) stands as one of the most dramatic and violent chapters of the 1992 Transnistrian War. This conflict pitted the forces of the Republic of Moldova against Transnistrian separatists, who were directly supported by the 14th Army of the Russian Federation. On June 19, Transnistrian guardsmen and Cossacks launched an attack on the Moldovan Police in Tighina. The police bravely held their positions, and late that night, additional detachments of police and volunteers from Varnița arrived to reinforce them.
By June 20, the city was largely under the control of Moldovan forces, but the situation quickly escalated with the direct involvement of the Russian 14th Army. Russian tanks attempted to force the bridge connecting Tiraspol to Tighina, though they were initially repelled by the Moldovans. However, over the following two days, June 20 and 21, Tighina endured intense shelling with heavy weaponry, and surrounding localities were also attacked.
Moldovan volunteers played a crucial role in the city's defense, with many risking their lives to support regular forces in the struggle for the Republic of Moldova's territorial integrity.
Ultimately, Russian and Transnistrian forces managed to breach the Moldovan defenses, force the bridge, and enter the city, decisively shifting the balance of power.
It is estimated that approximately 200 Moldovan military personnel and civilians perished in the fighting in Tighina, with another 300 sustaining injuries.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
