'''Transnistria''', officially the ''Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic'' (PMR), (also known as Transdnistria or ''"beyond the Dniester"''), declared its independence at the time of the break up of the [[Soviet Union]] before [[Moldova]] became a state. Transnistria has never been part [[Ukraine]]. Transnistria lies east of Moldova along the Dnister river. The republic takes the form of a long and narrow strip of land (over 250 miles in length) sandwiched between [[Moldova]] and [[Ukraine]]. It has an area of 1,607 square miles (4,163 km) and a population of 555,000 (2005 est). | '''Transnistria''', officially the ''Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic'' (PMR), (also known as Transdnistria or ''"beyond the Dniester"''), declared its independence at the time of the break up of the [[Soviet Union]] before [[Moldova]] became a state. Transnistria has never been part [[Ukraine]]. Transnistria lies east of Moldova along the Dnister river. The republic takes the form of a long and narrow strip of land (over 250 miles in length) sandwiched between [[Moldova]] and [[Ukraine]]. It has an area of 1,607 square miles (4,163 km) and a population of 555,000 (2005 est). |