MSSR

Moldavian SSR was Soviet republic 1940-1991, capital Kishinev. Southwestern SSR, one of 15 SSRs, formed from Bessarabia and MASSR. Known for vineyards, wine, tobacco, fruits, Dniester river, Black Sea near. Population 4.33M in 1989, mostly Moldovans Romanians, Ukrainians, Russians, Gagauz. Soviet rule brought collectivization, Russification, deportations 1941 1949, Transnistrian conflict seeds, Cyrillic script enforced. Voted independent 1991. Very wine rich today.