Transnistria, Moldova’s breakaway region, has suspended heating and hot water supply to households after the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine ceased.
The local energy company, Tirasteploenergo, confirmed the move on January 1, 2025, stating that the situation resulted from a halt in gas deliveries.
This decision leaves only medical facilities providing inpatient care with heating.
“The temporary cessation of gas deliveries to the heat-generating facilities of the enterprise” necessitated the cuts, the company said in a statement.
Public institutions, households, and private organizations are among those affected.
“There is no heating or hot water,” said an unnamed employee from Tirasteploenergo in Tiraspol, the region’s capital, during a phone interview with Reuters.
The employee could not specify when the situation would improve.
Gas Transit Crisis
The disruption follows an announcement by Russian energy giant Gazprom on Wednesday, which confirmed it could no longer supply gas to Europe via Ukraine.
Gazprom cited Ukraine’s “repeated and clear refusal” to extend transit agreements that expired at the end of 2024 as the cause.
The cessation has broader implications. Transnistria declared an economic state of emergency in mid-December in anticipation of the crisis, while Moldova declared a state of emergency in the energy sector shortly thereafter.
Background of the Dispute
Transnistria, located on the left bank of the Dniester River, has a population predominantly composed of ethnic Russians and Ukrainians.
It declared independence from Moldova in the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite its declaration, the region remains internationally unrecognized.
A Russian peacekeeping force of approximately 1,100 troops is stationed in Transnistria to oversee a ceasefire agreement established in 1992 between Chisinau (Moldova’s capital) and Tiraspol (Transnistria’s capital).
Ukrainian Stance and Regional Reactions
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko hailed the cessation of gas transit as a “historic event,” arguing that it marked Russia’s declining influence in European energy markets.
He claimed the decision by Kyiv would result in significant financial losses for Russia, which has faced widespread European efforts to reduce dependence on its gas.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from European stakeholders.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country relies on Russian gas, warned that Slovakia might cut electricity supplies to Ukraine if the gas flow is not restored.
Russia’s Response
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the standoff over gas transit last month, describing the end of the transit contract as inevitable.
“This transit contract will not exist anymore, it’s clear. But we will manage; Gazprom will manage,” Putin stated.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to pivot its energy strategy, focusing on expanding supply routes to Asia.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak recently announced the launch of a new gas pipeline to China, underlining Moscow’s shift away from European markets.
Impact and Outlook
The situation in Transnistria underscores the cascading effects of the broader geopolitical struggle over energy.
While medical facilities remain a priority for heating, residents in the region face significant challenges as winter temperatures plummet.
How long the crisis will persist remains uncertain, but the standoff highlights the fragility of energy security in Eastern Europe, with far-reaching economic and humanitarian consequences.
