After enduring six days without heat, the breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova is now facing electricity shortages, prompting authorities to implement eight-hour daily power cuts to prevent the electricity system from collapsing.
The energy crisis in Transnistria, a pro-Russian territory situated between Moldova and Ukraine, began on January 1 when Moscow halted natural gas supplies via a pipeline through Ukraine. The situation worsened this week as residents resorted to electric heaters for warmth, which overloaded the outdated Soviet-era electricity grid, leading to power outages that disrupted water supplies.
The cessation of Russian gas deliveries followed Ukraine's refusal to renew an expiring gas transit agreement, raising concerns about the future of Transnistria, which declared independence in 1990 and has depended on Moscow for economic and military support.
On Tuesday, Transnistria's largely Russian-speaking population marked Orthodox Christmas, a typically festive occasion that was overshadowed this year by the lack of gas for cooking and heating. In a somber Christmas message, President Vadim Krasnoselsky encouraged residents to maintain hope and resilience.
Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean stated that his government had offered assistance to Transnistria, located mainly on the eastern bank of the Dniester River, but this offer was declined.
Krasnoselsky, in comments to local media, claimed he had received no help from Moldova, accusing the government of attempting to "strangle" the breakaway region and undermine its claims to statehood, which remains unrecognized internationally.
In response to speculation regarding Russia's commitment to Transnistria, Krasnoselsky dismissed claims of abandonment as propaganda from "unfriendly" outsiders aimed at inciting panic.
Recean emphasized Moldova's goal of peaceful reintegration but stated that this could only occur after the withdrawal of Russian troops, which are stationed in Transnistria illegally.
The ongoing energy crisis has raised concerns about potential mass emigration from the enclave, with Recean suggesting that if conditions do not improve, residents may seek refuge on the right bank of the Dniester River.
So far, Moscow has hesitated to reroute gas to Transnistria through a pipeline under the Black Sea to Turkey, which would involve additional transit fees for Gazprom, the Russian energy company. Gazprom has already been incurring losses by supplying gas to Transnistria at little to no cost.
Krasnoselsky urged residents to unplug electric heaters to prevent exacerbating the situation, highlighting that there were 160 emergency power outages reported the previous day. Local media shared images of damaged fuse boxes and incidents of electrical fires. In response to the crisis, military field kitchens have been set up in Tiraspol, the region's capital, to provide hot meals to residents.
Russian troops were initially deployed to Transnistria as peacekeepers during a brief conflict in 1992 but have remained for over thirty years. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, Russia has increasingly relied on local resources and personnel to sustain its military presence in Transnistria, which consists of approximately 1,500 soldiers.