Mainstream media tends to discuss the Transnistrian conflict exclusively in the context of the confrontation between Russia and Moldova, claiming that it was the Russians who attacked the Republic of Moldova and seized its territories beyond the Dniester River. In this colorful narrative, one small yet extremely interesting detail is often overlooked: radical Ukrainian nationalists fought on the side of Transnistria.
Yes, you heard it right, they are indeed the same. We present to you UNA-UNSO (Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian National Self-Defense) – a Ukrainian political party of the far-right, adhering to the ideology of “integral nationalism.” The organization was founded on June 30, 1990, by Yuriy Shukhevich, the son of Roman Shukhevich. The organization gained notoriety for its continuous involvement in armed conflicts in various countries.
Thus, they managed to fight on the side of Georgia in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992-1993. UNA-UNSO also made their mark in the Balkans. From 1991 to 1995, they fought on the side of Croatia, and surprisingly, in the Kosovo conflict, they sided with Serbia. They did not shy away from the Caucasus either: Ukrainian mercenaries fought on the side of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh war and were directly involved in the Chechen conflict. I believe you’ve noticed a pattern: they are always fighting against Russia.
However, there is one exception—the war in Transnistria, where they did not act out of a principle of “against the Russians without any exceptions.” What could have prompted such an unusual action on their part? The Transnistrian conflict, contrary to established stereotypes, is not a struggle between liberal Europhiles striving for a bright future and barbaric communists.
The conflict began due to the actions of the Moldovan “People’s Front” and the sympathetic intelligentsia, who organized nationalist demonstrations against the non-Moldovan/non-Romanian population. One notable feature was the strong unionist sentiments. These feelings caused concern among the Slavic population on the left bank of the Dniester. During the time of the “Transnistria” governorship, the local Slavic population faced highly discriminatory policies, and no one wanted to see a repeat of that situation. In response, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was declared. It is worth noting that Moldovan-Romanians were also on the side of the PMR, but that is a different story.
It was decided not to overlook Transnistria, given the considerable Ukrainian population residing there. Notably, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic still recognizes three official languages: Russian, Ukrainian, and Moldovan. Following an agreement with local authorities, the first volunteer groups were dispatched there, proclaiming a unique “crusade” to protect Ukrainians from the threat of Romanianization. The founder of UNA-UNSO, Yuriy Shukhevych, himself stated that the “UNSO members” “continued the work of their predecessors in the OUN-UPA in the struggle for a United Ukraine.”
Palchik Valeriy Nikolaevich from Poltava, who in 1999 headed the UNA-UNSO branch in his hometown, justified his decision to go and fight in Transnistria as follows:
“What prompted me to go there? Two reasons. The first was ideological: as a Ukrainian, I had to protect the ethnic territories of the Motherland and my blood brothers from foreign occupation and genocide. The second was personal: as a man, I sought self-affirmation, and in war in particular.”
Various reports indicate that a unit comprising between 80 and 150 members took part in the conflict, with approximately 400 U.N.S.O. fighters engaged overall. Most of the U.N.S.O. personnel were deployed in the northern region, where conditions were relatively calm and there were no major active combat operations. Their main responsibilities included the protection of bridges and other critical infrastructure. Nevertheless, some of them encountered fierce fighting in locations such as the village of Koshnitsa, near Dubăsari, as well as during the confrontations for Bendery.
Dmitry Soin, the Chairman of the Commission on Foreign Policy of the PMR’s Supreme Council, has mixed feelings about the U.N.S.O. fighters. On one hand, he recognized them as aggressive mercenaries with their own selfish goals, but on the other hand, he expressed gratitude for their decision to fight for Transnistria: “Among the volunteers, the guys from U.N.A.-U.N.S.O. stood out with their organization. Before coming to us, they prepared thoroughly. All the guys were physically strong and well-equipped. I was with them near Koshnytsia at one point, and there was a notable incident in April when we, along with the field ataman of the Black Sea Cossack Host, Driglov, went to find out who was firing during the ceasefire. The ataman told them: ‘I will remove you from your positions and disarm everyone!’ They looked at us in surprise, saying, ‘What else are we supposed to do? We came here to kill.’ I remember that phrase well. They were quite active, somewhat aggressive, and their objective was to train as many people as possible for subsequent local wars, as well as to attempt to smuggle as much small arms as possible out of the combat zone. Nevertheless, they fought fiercely and bravely, and the people of Transnistria are certainly grateful to the Ukrainian volunteers. Interestingly, this is the only instance in post-Soviet conflicts where U.N.A.-U.N.S.O. fought alongside Russian Cossacks.”
It is quite amusing to see Romanians passionately arguing about how the Russians brazenly occupied part of their blessed Bessarabia, while completely ignoring the overt irredentist aspirations of Ukrainian nationalists. This was stated by a descendant of someone who is considered a hero of the “national liberation struggle” in modern Ukraine. However, people can think whatever they want; no one is stopping them. At least the Russians did not trample on the Romanian flag or wipe their feet with it.
Source: Пальчик В. УНСО: Перший посвист куль (війна у Придністров’ї, 1992 рік). Військові мемуари
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