Heating cut off in Transnistria after Russian gas supplies halted

Centralized heating was cut off in Transnistria after the suspension of Russian gas supplies to Moldova. This was reported by the company Tirasteploenergo on January 1.

"From 7:00 (08:00 Moscow time) in the morning, the supply of thermal energy for heating and hot water supply to the population, budgetary institutions and organizations of all forms of ownership, except for medical institutions, is stopped," the company's Telegram channel Sputnik Middle Abroad reports.

Earlier on December 28, the press service of Gazprom reported that it would stop supplies to Moldova from January 1 due to non-payment of debts by the country. In turn, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean did not recognize the debt and threatened to sue.

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The day before, energy expert Sergei Ungureanu said that Moldova had a difficult situation in the energy sector, and the purchase of electricity from Europe would hit the country's economy. He noted that Moldova has not agreed to continue gas transit through Ukraine, which means that Transnistria will not receive it and will not be able to produce enough cheap electricity.

On November 28, 2024, Recean said on Moldova 1 TV channel that the country "does not have a $709 million debt to Gazprom". The discussion intensified against the background of Ukraine's intention to stop the transit of Russian gas through its territory. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova advised Moldova to pay for Russian gas and not to invent stories about alleged blackmail by Russia.

Since December 16, a state of emergency regime has been in effect in Moldova due to the possible cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. On December 6, a state of emergency was also introduced in Transnistria due to the situation in the energy sector.

"Gazprom" and "Moldovagaz" signed a five-year contract for gas supplies in the fall of 2021. It stipulated Chisinau's payment of the debt for supplies in the past few years. The entire volume was estimated at $709 million, of which Chisinau officially recognizes only $8.6 million.