| Conventional Long Name: | Southern Bessarabia |
| Native Name: | Basarabia de Sud |
| Common Name: | Southern Bessarabia |
| Subdivision: | Territory |
| Nation: | Moldavia (1856–1859), United Principalities/Romanian United Principalities/Romania (1859–1878) |
| Government Type: | Civil administration |
| Political Subdiv: | Counties |
| Today: |  Ukraine |
| Year Start: | 1856 |
| Year End: | 1878 |
| Event Start: | Treaty of Paris (1856) |
| Date Start: | 30 March |
| Event End: | Russian takeover |
| Date End: | 13–18 October |
| Event1: | Union of Moldavia and Wallachia (United Principalities) |
| Date Event1: | 24 January 1859 (O.S.) (5 February N.S.) |
| Event2: | Treaty of Berlin (1878) |
| Date Event2: | 13 July 1878 |
| Era: | 19th century |
| P1: | Russian Empire |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Russia.svg |
| S1: | Russian Empire |
| Flag S1: | Flag of the Romanov Monarchy.svg |
| Stat Year1: | 1859 |
| Stat Year2: | 1878 |
| Stat Area1: | 8,694 |
| Stat Area2: | 8,694 |
| Stat Pop1: | 138,521 |
| Stat Pop2: | 163,000 |
| Ref Area1: | [1] |
| Ref Pop1: | [2] |
Southern Bessarabia or South Bessarabia is a territory of Bessarabia which, as a result of the Crimean War, was returned to the Moldavian Principality in 1856. As a result of the unification of the latter with Wallachia, these lands became part of United Principalities of Moldova and Wallachia.
In 1878, despite opposition from Romania, the Berlin Treaty, which followed the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), transferred this region back to the Russian Empire (which reintegrated it into the Bessarabia Governorate).
The transfer of the territory took place in October 1878. From 13 to 18 October, Russia took over Southern Bessarabia while the Romanian officials withdrew.[3] In 1918 Southern Bessarabia yet again became part of the Kingdom of Romania (under the informal name of Bugeac) for the following 22 years (1918–1940) and again between 1941 and 1944.
The area of the region was 8694km2 and covered 3 counties: