Transnistria, AKA the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, is a self-proclaimed republic on a strip of land between the River Dniester and the eastern Moldovan border with Ukraine. “During the collapse of the Soviet Union the narrow strip of land declared independence from Moldova. Since the civil war in 1992 the central government lost control and an unofficial currency, parliament, national anthem and citizenship was formed,” explains Julia. “But the self-proclaimed state is not recognised by anybody, not even by Russia – yet there is a huge Russian impact on political, economical and public life.”