Hîncești (Romanian pronunciation: [hɨnˈt͡ʃeʃtʲ]) is a city and municipality[2] in Moldova.

Hîncești is situated on the Cogâlnic River, 33 km (21 mi) southwest of the Moldovan capital, Chișinău.

Within the Russian Empire it was known under the Russified name Gincheshty (Гинчешты), but in Romanian as Hîncești.

After World War I, it became part of Romania, formed in the meantime from the unification of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia.

During World War II, it was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, which changed its name to Kotovskoe after Grigore Kotovski, who was born there.