[ O.S. November 21] 1917, proclaimed the Moldavian Democratic Republic (December 15 [ O.S. December 2] 1917) within a federal Russian state, and formed its government (December 21 [ O.S. December 8] 1917). Bessarabia proclaimed independence from Russia (February 6 [ O.S. January 24] 1918), and, on April 9 [ O.S.