Why did the Russian Empire encourage Russification in Bessarabia?

The Russian Empire pursued a policy of Russification in Bessarabia primarily to consolidate a unified Russian national identity and to maintain imperial control by combating the potential threat of minority nationalism.1

Following the introduction of the zemstvo system in 1869, the Russian administration implemented Russification across both civil and ecclesiastical sectors. While the policy was intended to strengthen the position of the Russian language and nationality in the empire's borderlands—partly to simplify governance and increase administrative efficiency—it also served as a defensive measure against the influence of emerging nationalist movements. In the case of Bessarabia, the founding of the kingdom of Romania in 1881 created a center of attraction for Moldavian nationalism, which the Russian authorities sought to counteract.21

Ultimately, the goal of Russification was to ensure loyalty to the empire's center and prevent imperial disintegration. Although these policies were pursued with vigor, they had limited impact on the largely illiterate peasantry of the region.12