Moldova’s pro-Russian separatist region, Transdniestria, is facing a harsh energy crisis after gas supplies were cut off, leaving over 51,000 households without gas and 1,500 apartment buildings without heat. The dispute follows a breakdown in the gas transit deal between Russia and Ukraine, with Kyiv refusing to extend the agreement after New Year’s Day. Transdniestria, which has long relied on Russian gas via Ukraine, now finds itself in the grip of a severe shortage, affecting daily life and causing widespread hardship.
Moldova is accusing Russia’s state-owned Gazprom of exacerbating the crisis by refusing to provide gas through alternative routes, despite Moldova’s claims of unpaid debts being disputed. Gazprom, on the other hand, points the finger at Ukraine and accuses Moldova of ignoring the issue. Transdniestrian authorities, claiming external factors are to blame, face difficult decisions, including suspending school activities and rationing supplies to keep essential services running.
Moldova has rejected Russia’s accusations, instead accusing Moscow of stirring instability in the region ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary elections, which are expected later this year. The Moldovan government insists that Russia is attempting to create a pro-Russian government in the country by destabilizing Transdniestria. Meanwhile, Moldova has offered help, but Transdniestria’s leadership has rejected the proposal, deepening the political rift and further complicating the region’s energy crisis.
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