Russia has agreed to provide gas to Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova, as humanitarian aid, according to RIA Novosti. However, the specifics of how the gas will be delivered remain unclear.
This decision follows the cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine on January 1, 2025, creating potential leverage near Ukraine’s southwestern border as the ongoing conflict continues.
Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky clarified that the gas supply would be categorized as “humanitarian gas” from Russia. He emphasized that it would be used to meet the energy needs of the region’s population, as well as to support heating and industrial activities. Krasnoselsky had traveled to Moscow just before the announcement, according to Newsmaker.
The pledge comes amid an escalating energy crisis in Transnistria. Since January 1, 2025, the region has faced severe shortages, with central heating and industrial operations halted. Transnistria rejected Moldova’s offer for assistance, choosing instead to wait for Russian supplies through Gazprom.
Moldova declared a state of emergency on December 16, 2024, due to uncertainties surrounding gas supply. Prior to the supply suspension, Gazprom had been providing 5.7 million cubic meters of gas to Moldova, with all of it directed to Transnistria for household heating and electricity generation at the Moldovan GRES power plant.
In early January 2025, Ukraine stopped transiting Russian natural gas, leading to significant energy shortages in Transnistria. The region immediately faced the suspension of gas supplies, leaving tens of thousands of households without heating or hot water during the winter. The region’s main power plant, the Cuciurgan station, switched from gas to coal, but its reserves are expected to last only until the end of January. Despite Moldova’s offer to supply gas from European sources, Transnistrian officials declined, hoping that Russian supplies would resume.
The energy crisis has disrupted Transnistria’s economy and daily life, halting industrial activities and causing rolling blackouts to conserve power. Residents have been advised to rely on alternative heating methods, like firewood.
The situation has also intensified tensions between Moldova and Transnistria. Moldovan authorities have accused Russia of using energy as a political tool to destabilize the region.
Related Topics:
- What are The 4 Types of Natural Gas
- What to Do When There’s a Gas Leak Outside
- How Does Gas Turn into Electricity?