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I want you to close your eyes and imagine a place caught between two worlds.

It's known as Transnistria. Technically, this is part of Moldova.

But in reality, Transnistria's got its own currency, the rubel.

It's even got its own flag emblazoned with a hammer and a sickle.

Well, Transnistria is this odd place that kind of, in a way, feels probably like an enclave of a Soviet Union.

Monika Bronsjuk has been reporting about Moldova and Transnistria for the New York Times.

Transnistria runs along the edge of Moldova.

It's strategically important right now because it is pressed up next to Ukraine.

On a map, Moldova sort of looks like Ukraine's missing puzzle piece,

sitting snugly inside its larger neighbor.

Moldova has three borders with Ukraine and one of those borders.

So it's like, it really is tucked.

It's really is tucked and sort of one of those borders

is this thin sliver of land that's called Transnistria.

So we have Moldova, which is a former Soviet republic.

And you have this region where you had a lot of retired Soviet generals that were coming

because Moldova is also a country with very nice mild weather, with good foods.

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