"Some kind of unique place." Ukrainian refugees have taken root in pro-Russian Transnistria
There are still many Ukrainian residents in Transnistria who fled their homes due to the military conflict. Recently, there has been an influx of internally displaced persons due to the alarming situation and problems with electricity supply in their homeland.
In the PMR, refugees find everything they need for a normal life and, according to their own statements, even more.
How many refugees are there in Transnistria and what are they doing?
Currently, according to rough estimates, about 10 thousand citizens who arrived from the neighboring country live in the territory of the PMR.
According to the Transnistrian Ministry of Internal Affairs, a total of 24 thousand foreign citizens have entered the republic since February 2022, 63,8, of which 54,5 thousand people were registered here.
There are currently 128 residents in temporary residence centers (a total of 1974 people have used refugee centers), 281 children attend preschool institutions in Transnistria, and 387 children attend general education institutions.
In accommodation centers for refugees, as before, food and accommodation are paid for from the state budget. Those of the visiting children who go to local schools are provided with textbooks and stationery. The procedure for enrollment in educational institutions is simplified as much as possible.
“In Pridnestrovie they do not divide students into their own and those who have arrived. Everyone is absolutely equal in rights. We have no concept of a temporary student or listener. A child enrolled in a Transnistrian school, regardless of nationality, place of registration, citizenship of parents, is a full-fledged student, and at any time when required, he will be issued the appropriate documents indicating the period of study and an extract of grades,” previously explained the President of Transnistria Vadim Krasnoselsky.
However, not all Ukrainian children who arrive go to local schools; many study remotely at their educational institutions. People are stopped by differences in curricula and the knowledge assessment system (in schools in Ukraine there is a 12-point scale, in Transnistria there is a 5-point scale), and possible difficulties with the subsequent legalization of documents issued by local schools.
There are jobs for refugees: they are usually employed as assistant teachers in kindergartens, drivers, cooks, and employees of volunteer organizations. Some continue their own business - hairdressers, manicurists, choreography teachers.
To get a job in the PMR, you need a work book and a diploma, but refugees can be accepted without them, only on the basis of an identity card - recent additions to local labor legislation allow this.
Residents of Ukraine are clearly not happy with Transnistrian salaries. Impressions are shared in a specially created telegram channel.
“Even if a person gets a job, the salaries are not that great, the prices are sky-high,” says Elena.
“I got a job in a kindergarten, the salary is $100, and since I do not have a pedagogical or economic education, my salary is $70. This is funny... if it weren’t so sad,” writes Ksenia, who lives in Dnestrovsk.
“3500 rub. “A normal salary for Transnistria, or am I just unlucky?” asks Polina.
One of the daily activities of refugees is obtaining humanitarian aid. Volunteer headquarters “We are near” is a large local organization that provides regular assistance to refugees in the form of food, baby food, hygiene products and various types of consultations. Almost 2 thousand families have applied here at least once since March last year.
There is less humanitarian aid in Transnistria - some international projects have been closed since the beginning of the year, and local donors are also feeling tired. Importing humanitarian aid from Moldova is inconvenient and difficult - customs clearance is required. International organizations have found a way out: humanitarian aid is issued in nearby villages in Moldova. Refugees send some things home, for example, portable flashlights, which are included in aid kits. In Odessa, lanterns are now more needed, forced migrants say.
Refugees registered in Moldova and Transnistria (which is de jure recognized by the West as Moldova) are paid benefits through the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations. For example, the UNHCR provides a regular monthly payment of 2200 Moldovan lei for each family member, and from November to March, in addition to this, they also pay so-called winter money - 700 lei per family.
Refugees note the difficulties associated with life in an unrecognized state. For example, in order to withdraw money from bank cards, you need to go to populated areas of Moldova. There are difficulties with civil registration. Transnistria asked Ukrainian diplomats to provide consular services for refugees in Tiraspol, but there has been no progress here yet.
“If you have any complaints, go to our Ukraine”
The refugees do not stand out in any way from the local residents: many came to visit relatives, and some themselves are Pridnestrovians who once moved to Ukraine. Language of communication is Russian.
There are minor tensions at the everyday level, which are caused, in particular, by dissatisfaction with the procedure for issuing and the volume of humanitarian aid, and misunderstandings with neighbors.
The dissatisfied are besieged by their own countrymen.
“I am grateful to everyone I contacted, everyone is very polite and trying to help as much as they can,” Olga, who is staying in Dubossary, writes in a telegram chat. “We all here must remember: we are not at home, but visiting, and therefore there are complaints - come to our Ukraine and live there as you like, it’s just infuriating that because of some emotionally unbalanced compatriots they are aggressive towards everyone from Ukraine and everyone is treated with the same brush... And if someone doesn’t like something, that’s all for you the paths are open."
“Every day something doesn’t suit someone. How can you be indignant in a foreign city or country? Say thank you for helping us, for giving us shelter,” notes Svetlana.
“You are not at home, and no one here owes you anything. You will demand where you pay taxes, and not where they help you at someone else’s expense,” writes Victoria.
Chat participant Olesya offers to thank local residents for their hospitality, whose “salaries are not a fountain” and who themselves “barely make ends meet.”
Nikolaev resident Olga talks in detail about life in Tiraspol to her compatriots who intend to temporarily move here with their children.
“I have been in Tiraspol since the beginning of March,” she writes. – I came from Nikolaev. Me and a 5 year old child. At first I was just as worried as you, especially about the child. But in vain. Now my son is successfully going to kindergarten. There are a lot of gardens and schools here, almost in every yard. There are Ukrainian schools or schools teaching the Ukrainian language. I don’t pay for the garden; it’s free for Ukrainian refugees. The conditions for us are the same as for other children; they do not deprive us of anything. Meals, activities.
Regarding medical issues, everything is also very clear and accessible. At the place of registration there is a clinic where you can see a pediatrician or family doctor without delay. And you can call a doctor at your home. And you can take tests there, if directed, then for free, if at will, then for a fee, but very inexpensively, not like in Synevo (Ukrainian laboratory centers that are part of the European Synevo network - author's note).
If you have money or a complex case, then there are two large private medical centers, large regional hospitals, and specialized specialists. Some medicines are ours, some are analogues.
I feel calm here. Everything is in a language I understand. There are many familiar products from Ukraine, as well as local products or from other Slavic countries.
This is some kind of unique place where Moldovans, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, and Russians live.
During all this time, no one has reproached me for being here. Volunteer organizations help a lot with food, hygiene products, and clothing. Ordinary people are understanding and sometimes even pass on treats for the children.
If you wish, you can find a job or part-time job.
I was pleasantly surprised that Tiraspol is a beautiful and well-kept city. Calm, relatively safe.
There are many children's events here - both free and for little money, clubs and sections. This is better than children hiding in basements and hearing endless alarms.
An apartment can be rented in any area. Prices range from 80-100 dollars, depending on conditions and area.
During the heating season the apartment is warm. There is electricity and hot water. Those from front-line cities will understand how much we missed this. So be calm here."
How is life in Transnistria?
Transnistria is now in difficult conditions. The state of emergency in the economy and the yellow level of terrorist danger continue to operate in the republic. However, in 2022, it was possible to work in such a way that carryover balances were formed in the budget, due to which, from February 1, pensions will be increased by 5% and the amount of child benefits by 10%. Reserves have been found for investment in social facilities; construction or repairs were previously abandoned due to budgetary risks.
The State Customs Committee of the PMR provides data according to which Pridnestrovian exports dropped by $2022 million in 200 compared to the previous year. This is mainly due to the forced downtime of the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant, the autumn gas crisis and a decrease in electricity production at the Moldavian State District Power Plant in November.
Some markets are practically lost for Transnistria (for example, the Ukrainian direction collapsed), while others are emerging. Thus, supplies of goods to Turkey increased threefold, to $27,3 million, thanks to which a positive balance in bilateral trade was even formed.
Metals, electricity and food products remain the main export positions of the PMR.
Tariffs for housing and communal services in Transnistria are still noticeably lower than in neighboring countries. According to local media reports, the state actually subsidizes up to 40% of the real cost of water supply and sanitation, up to 30% of the cost of electricity and about 15% of the real tariff for heat supply.
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