Moldova and breakaway region of Transnistria confronting energy and security crisis after Ukraine ends transit agreement for Russian gas

By arseniotoledo // 2025-01-07

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Ukraine's refusal to continue transiting Russian gas through its territory has cut off gas supplies to Moldova and its breakaway region, Transnistria, threatening access to electricity and heating in both areas as winter sets in.
Moldova has accused Russia of weaponizing the energy crisis to destabilize the country's pro-Eureopean government.
The energy crisis is threatening to make energy costs surge and increase social discontent, which could weaken public support for Moldova's pro-European agenda, potentially benefiting the country's pro-Russian political forces.
The gas cutoff has shut down most industries in Transnistria, leaving the breakaway region's 450,000 residents without heating and hot water, with coal reserves expected to last only 50 days.

Moldova is confronting a dual energy and security crisis after Ukraine halted Russian gas transit through its territory, cutting off the supply of gas to itself as well as to its breakaway region of Transnistria, threatening the stability of both countries. The move, which took effect on New Year's Day, aims to deprive Russia of revenue from selling natural gas to Europe that Kyiv says is being used to fund its conflict in Ukraine. (Related: Slovakia considering cutting electricity supplies to Ukraine in retaliation for Kyiv preventing Russian gas from reaching the country.) Heating and electricity have already been severely restricted, and the government in Chisinau is scrambling to secure alternative energy sources quickly while warning of the Kremlin using the crisis to discredit and destabilize the country's pro-European government. Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean framed the crisis as a deliberate Russian strategy to destabilize the country. "By jeopardizing the future of the protectorate it has backed for three decades in an effort to destabilize Moldova, Russia is revealing the inevitable outcome for all its allies – betrayal and isolation," Recean said in a statement. He accused Moscow of weaponizing energy to undermine Moldova's pro-European government and boost pro-Russian forces ahead of parliamentary elections to be held no later than July this year. The crisis has broader implications for Moldova's aspirations to join the European Union (EU). Analysts warn that rising energy costs and social discontent could erode public support for President Maia Sandu's pro-European agenda. "Russia can wait for the elections, and then parties who are not pro-EU will probably win," said Jakub Pienkowski, an analyst, in an interview with the BBC. "Because Maia Sandu can talk about EU accession, but what use is that if people don't have money for electricity or gas? This is the aim for Russia."

Energy crisis shuts down nearly all of Transnistria

The Russian gas cutoff to Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria has forced the shutdown of nearly all industrial operations, leaving the small region's 450,000 residents without heating and hot water for several hours every day as winter sets in. Transnistria, which declared independence from Moldova in the early 1990s with the support of Russia, has long relied on Russian gas to power its industries and heat its homes. Only hospitals and other critical infrastructure sites are receiving more than the bare minimum energy the region's government can provide. "There is no heating or hot water," an employee of Tirasteploenergo, a local energy company, told Reuters from Tiraspol, Transnistria's capital. Warming centers have been established, and residents are being urged to rely on blankets to endure the cold. The region's main power plant, Kurchugan, relies on coal reserves expected to last only 50 days, further complicating matters for Moldova, which also depends on the plant for electricity. Transnistrian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Sergei Obolonik confirmed that all industrial enterprises except food producers have halted operations. "The problem is so extensive that if it is not resolved for a long time, we will already have irreversible changes – that is, enterprises will lose their ability to start up," he said. Tirasteploenergo cut heating and hot water to households, urging residents to conserve warmth by gathering in single rooms and using electric heaters. Transnistrian President Vadim Krasnoselsky said gas reserves could last 10 days in northern areas and twice as long in the south. Vadim Ceban, head of Moldova's national gas company, offered to help Transnistria secure European gas but emphasized it would come at market prices. While Moldova and its neighbors work to diversify energy sources, Transnistria's plight underscores the challenges faced by regions still tethered to Russian supplies. As temperatures drop, residents like Olga, a 42-year-old mother in Tiraspol, are bracing for a difficult winter. "We prepared two rooms for this emergency and installed electric fireplaces," she said. "We will hold on like this, hoping this situation is temporary." EnergySupply.news has more similar stories. Watch this short clip showing the rolling blackouts currently gripping Transnistria. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Energy crisis shuts down nearly all of Transnistria

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