A country of eastern Europe bordering on Romania. Comprised of lands acquired by Russia from the historical region of Moldavia in 1791, 1793, and 1812 and (after 1940) part of Bessarabia, it was established as an autonomous republic of the USSR in 1924 and became a constituent republic in 1940, known as the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. Moldova declared its independence in 1991. Chişinău is the capital and the largest city.