Chisinau: The breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniestria suspended heating and hot water supplies to homes on Wednesday after Russia halted gas supplies to central and eastern Europe via Ukraine. The disruption in gas flow was immediately felt across the mainly Russian-speaking region, which has around 450,000 residents. Transdniestria, which declared independence from Moldova in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, hosts approximately 1,500 Russian troops.
“There is no heating or hot water,” an employee from the local energy company Tirasteploenergo told Reuters. She added that the duration of the supply disruption remained unclear.
The gas cut came after the expiration of a transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, further exacerbating tensions. Vadim Krasnoselsky, leader of Transdniestria, acknowledged the challenging situation, emphasizing that the region had prepared for the interruption.
“The situation is not an easy one, but on the whole, we were prepared,” Krasnoselsky stated. He attributed the gas cutoff to a dispute over unpaid debts between Moldova and Russian energy giant Gazprom. “Things will get better. Think about yourself, your family, your loved ones,” he added.
The halt of Russian gas transit through Ukraine is a direct consequence of Kyiv’s refusal to extend a transit agreement amid the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy characterized the end of the gas flow as a “major defeat” for Moscow. He also called on Europe to support Moldova during its ongoing energy transition.
Prior to the cut, Russia was supplying approximately 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Transdniestria, which powered both the region and Moldova’s energy grid, including a crucial power plant that served the entire country. Moldova, a former Soviet state with ambitions to join the European Union, has long faced gas payment disputes with Russia.
Moldova’s Energy Response
In response to the energy crisis, Moldova is taking immediate steps to reduce energy consumption by at least a third. The country aims to generate 38% of its energy needs from domestic production, including 10% from renewable sources, with the remainder sourced from neighboring Romania.
Daniel Voda, a government spokesman, reassured Moldovan citizens on Wednesday, confirming that the country’s thermal power plants were operating normally and that gas reserves were sufficient to last through the winter. He also mentioned that the government was seeking alternative solutions to help Transdniestria’s residents during the crisis.
Also Read | Montenegro Shooter Who Killed 10 People Dies from Self-Inflicted Wounds
Transdniestria, where temperatures in Tiraspol were around 4°C (39°F) on Wednesday, implemented emergency measures to cope with the gas cut. The local energy company’s website advised residents to wear warm clothing, stay in a single room, and use electric heaters. Hospitals were exempt from the energy restrictions.
Olga, a 42-year-old mother of two from Tiraspol, described the severe lack of heating in her apartment. “We prepared two rooms for this emergency and installed electric fireplaces there for heating,” she explained, expressing hope that the gas situation would soon resolve.
Also Read | Fatal Jeju Air Crash Sparks Police Raids on Airline and Airport Operator
Transdniestria’s parliament had appealed to Moscow last month, urging the Kremlin and Russian lawmakers to broker a new agreement with Ukraine to resume gas supplies. Russia assured that it would continue to protect its citizens and military personnel in Transdniestria.
