Key information
- Russia has cut off natural gas supplies to Transnistria, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without heat and electricity.
- The move is seen as a deliberate attempt by Russia to destabilize Moldova economically and socially in the run-up to the elections.
- Removing Moldova’s dependence on Russian gas could effectively dismantle Transnistria’s de facto independence.
The Moscow-backed breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova faces a deepening crisis as Russia cut off natural gas deliveries, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without heat and electricity amid drop in temperatures. Local authorities have been forced to cut hot water and heating services in apartment buildings, urging residents to take measures to combat the cold. This is what Politico reports.
The move by Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, follows the expiration of a long-term transit agreement that allowed gas exports via Ukrainian pipelines. Moldovan officials view this action as a deliberate attempt by Russia to destabilize the country economically and socially. They say Russia seeks to weaken the pro-reform government before the elections and create political pressure for the return of pro-Russian forces to power.
The European response
Moldova, which has strongly supported Ukraine since the start of the conflict and is a candidate for EU membership, insists that this is not an energy crisis, but a crisis security fabricated with the aim of influencing the 2025 legislative elections. President Maia Sandu’s government faces another crucial national vote by summer after a tight referendum on EU membership marred by allegations of Russian interference, offered humanitarian aid to Transnistria. However, local leaders reportedly refused this aid.
Geopolitical significance
European politicians view Transnistria as a significant obstacle to Moldova’s EU membership due to the presence of more than a thousand Russian troops in the breakaway region. The breakaway territory previously enjoyed subsidized access to gas thanks to a Kremlin-backed deal that allowed it to sell electricity to the rest of Moldova, thereby financing salaries and pensions in Transnistria.
Moldovan officials have indicated that removing the country’s dependence on Russian gas could effectively dismantle Transnistria’s de facto independence. This situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region, where energy security is closely linked to political instability and international relations.
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