Our identities are tied up tightly with our home country. So imagine what it must be like to live in a country that doesn’t actually exist – at least on any official level or even on maps.
This is the plight of the 469,000 people of Transnistria – a narrow strip of land between the Dniester river and the Ukrainian border which broke away from Moldova in 1990.
The international community, however, does not recognise its self-declared statehood.
Transnistria remains in a stand-off with Moldova and is economically, politically and militarily supported by Russia – which has an estimated 1,500 soldiers in Transnistria.
In September 2006 a referendum – not recognised by Moldova or the international community – saw the territory reassert its demand for independence and vote in support of ensuing a union with Russia.
TikTokers who recognise the strangeness of the situation have made their way to Transnistria to talk about what it’s like to visit.
Travel TikToker Harry Cows shared more about his time in Transnistria on his TikTok channel @HarryCows.
He said: “Today I wanted to go to a country that doesn’t exist. So I hopped in a white van and headed towards the Ukrainian border.
“After passing by many military checkpoints which I dare not film I made it into Transnistria – a breakaway region of Moldova.”
Harry talked about his time in Transnistria’s capital Tiraspol.
He said: “The first thing I did was walk around town and admire just how clean this place was. There was both old and new but the Soviet vibes can really be felt here. Many things have been unchanged since the USSR.
“Everywhere I went I could see the hammer and sickle.”
However despite many of its residents being desperately poor, Harry also shared that the friendliness of the area’s people was its standout feature adding “I had so many amazing interactions here” that he says will always stick with him.
However Harry isn’t the only curious visitor to Transnistria, with many tourists heading to travel review website TripAdvisor to share their experiences.
The top rated thing to do in Transnistria according to the website is to visit Bendery Fortress.
One user said: “The beauty of the fortress is unique. It is well maintained and there are many picturesque places.”
Another said that it’s well worth a visit given “you are likely to have the entire fortress to yourself.”
