Tiraspol, city in the Trans-Dniester region of eastern Moldova, located on the Dniester River. Although situated at the center of an agricultural area, Tiraspol is also an industrial center, with industries producing textiles, carpets, glass, furniture, trucks, wine, food products, and electrical equipment. A railroad connects the city to nearby Tighina, to the country's capital of Chisinau; and to Odesa (Odessa), Ukraine.
Tiraspol is located on the site of the ancient Romanian village of Sucleia. It was founded in 1792 during the Russo-Turkish Wars, when Russia pushed its southwestern border from the Southern Bug River to the Dniester River. Tiraspol marked the farthest reach of the Russian Empire. In 1929 Tiraspol became the capital of the Moldovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In 1940 the Moldovian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) was proclaimed, and the former Moldovian ASSR was abolished. The Trans-Dniester region was transferred to the new republic, while the remainder of the Moldovian ASSR reverted to Ukraine. During World War II Tiraspol was occupied by Germany in 1941 and in 1944 was recaptured by the Soviet army. In 1989 and 1990 Tiraspol was the center of secessionist movements that advocated reunification of the Moldovian SSR with the Soviet Union; the reunification movements were supported by the Soviet army. In 1991 the city became part of the newly independent Republic of Moldova.
