Since the beginning of January, gas supplies to Transnistria have stopped. . The region was left without gas, heating and hot water, and cold water is supplied intermittently. All industrial enterprises are closed. Periods of power outages are constantly growing and have already reached eight hours a day, and soon this will not happen either, because the only thermal power plant will run out of coal.

Gas to Transnistria came from Russia through the territory of Ukraine - while the unrecognized republic itself did not pay for it. .

Russian interest At the same time, in Moldova - on the right bank of the Dniester - there is no gas shortage - Chisinau has been receiving it from other sources for two years, in particular from Romania.

A similar alternative, according to the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Energy of Moldova, Constantin Borosan, was also offered to Transnistria. He stated that back in December Chisinau offered Tiraspol to consider the possibility of purchasing gas on the Romanian stock exchange in the event of Gazprom stopping supplies, but did not receive any response to these proposals.

On January 2, the head of Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, offered assistance to the Tiraspoltransgaz company in organizing the purchase of natural gas “on any European gas platform on market conditions” to provide residents of the left bank of the Dniester with energy. However, Tiraspol, according to Cheban, refused this offer.

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that the crisis situation with gas supply in the unrecognized Transnistria arose allegedly due to decisions of the authorities of Ukraine and Moldova.

“You see that for many years Russia supplied natural gas, on which, in fact, Pridnestrovie lived. Now, due to the decisions of Ukraine and the authorities of Moldova, Transnistria has lost this opportunity. The situation is truly a crisis,” Peskov said.

Ukraine's proposal " Moldova - Maia Sandu. Of course, the most important thing is to help Moldova get through a difficult period of energy challenges, and not allow Moscow to inflame social tensions,” said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on January 8.

According to the president, the entire current energy situation in Moldova, and in particular on the left bank of the Dniester, is an attempt by Russia to manipulate energy resources against the authorities in Moldova.

" It is very important to maintain stability and give all people in Moldova the conditions to live in peace and work for their country, to overcome poverty and for our overall movement into the European Union,” stated Zelensky.

Scheme for elections?

Russia can resume gas supplies to Transnistria at any moment. For this purpose, there is also the capacity of the pipeline bypassing Ukraine and the consent of Moldova. However, the Kremlin does not do this and deliberately drives the region under its control into a deep humanitarian crisis - in order to later “save” it, and place responsibility for lost lives and a destroyed economy on the current government of Moldova, whose ratings have already suffered a blow due to the energy crisis.

It is very likely that Russia will soon partially resume gas supplies to Transnistria, which it occupied, but will present this as an achievement of one of Moldova’s pro-Russian politicians. Information preparation for such a scenario is already noticeable.

This whole scheme is built around the parliamentary elections planned for autumn 2025 in Moldova. The Kremlin’s goal is to replace the current pro-European authorities of Moldova with pro-Russian ones and reintegrate Transnistria into the country on conditions that will make a new turn to the West impossible for the country.

This poses huge security and geopolitical challenges for Ukraine as well..