#Exhibit of the Month

The work In Memoriam. In Memory of the Heroes Who Fell at the Nistru (1992) was developed within the Center for Culture and Military History and published under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Bureau for Reintegration, and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova. Authors: Gheorghe Bălan, Vitalie Ciobanu, Gheorghe Cojocaru.

This work provides a retrospective of the events that led to the outbreak of the war on the Nistru, accompanied by photographs of the heroes who lost their lives in the battles to defend the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

On March 2, 1992, the political conflict in the Nistru region escalated into a true fratricidal war. Under the fabricated pretext of "defending Russia's southern borders," political adventurers from the former Soviet metropolis encouraged Transnistrian separatism by arming secessionist paramilitary groups. At the same time, thousands of mercenary Cossacks and prisoners released early from jails, along with tanks and missiles, were sent against Independent Moldova, in a desperate attempt to revive the fallen empire.

Russia's undeclared war against the Republic of Moldova left behind hundreds of dead and wounded, shattered families, and villages in ruins. More than 50,000 peaceful residents from the conflict zone were forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge from the horrors of war.

For the sake of freedom and the future, Moldova's defenders faced death, enduring the hardships and humiliations of war.

During the Nistru war, 198 soldiers of the National Army and 89 personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their lives, while 40 combatants went missing without a trace, and nearly 300 were left disabled.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"The Phenomenon of Resistance"

February 28 – March 28, 2025

On February 28, 2025, the National Museum of History of Moldova inaugurated the photography exhibition "The Phenomenon of Resistance", a project that reveals the destinies of children who returned home from deportation, civilians, and prisoners of war released from captivity. The exhibition is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, in collaboration with the National Museum of History of Moldova and the National Congress of Ukrainians in Moldova.

The exhibition features 20 striking photographs, each illustrating the resilience of those who have endured suffering and injustice. It stands as a tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people, marking three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These poignant images bring to light stories of pain but also of hope, offering visitors the opportunity to reflect on the importance of human rights and international justice.

The photographs are not only acts of remembrance but also documentary testimonies of historical and sociological significance. The phenomenon of deportation is studied within the field of international law, making it a crucial subject for analyzing the impact of conflicts on civilian populations. As such, the exhibition serves as an educational tool, emphasizing the importance of documenting and archiving visual testimonies as a form of collective memory and proof of human resilience.

"The Phenomenon of Resistance" will be open to the public from February 28 to March 28, 2025, on the fence of the National Museum of History, Chișinău, 121A, 31 August 1989 Street.