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Eliminate the drawback: Russia will support Transnistria in the context of the energy crisis
The increase in gas prices due to the war in the Middle East has affected the energy supply of the PMR, but Russia will not abandon the Transnistrians. This was stated to Izvestia by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin. The diplomat assured that the left bank of the Dniester River would not be left without gas "under any circumstances." Earlier, Tiraspol said that the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran had provoked a disruption in gas supplies, and Transnistria had switched to austerity. The Parliament of the PMR claims that most Pridnestrovian enterprises are experiencing serious difficulties due to gas shortages. About how seriously the unrecognized republic has suffered and how Russia could help it, see the Izvestia article.
The Transnistrian crisis
The military conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran is exacerbating the economic crisis in Transnistria. In March, the Parliament of the PMR extended the economic emergency regime in force since December last year. Russia is ready to help the republic.
— The increase in prices for natural gas due to the events in the Middle East, of course, affected the energy supply of Pridnestrovie. However, Russia has never abandoned the Transnistrians and will not abandon them. The left bank of the Dniester River will not be left without gas in residential buildings and enterprises under any circumstances," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia.
Difficulties with the supply of Russian gas to Transnistria began at the beginning of last year, when Ukraine stopped its transit through its territory. As a result, it began to enter the republic through the Turkish Stream — through the Balkans, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. The Hungarian MET Group was involved in the supply chain, and companies registered in Dubai acted as financial intermediaries.
"Geopolitics and military actions provoked the breakdown of logistics schemes for natural gas supplies, rising prices and disruption of payment mechanisms," said Vadim Krasnoselsky, President of the PMR, in early March. — The volume of gas supplies has been significantly reduced, and we are forced to limit consumption for commercial purposes and in the field of thermal energy. We have to save as much as possible."
This is despite the fact that the economy of the unrecognized republic has already suffered seriously over the past year. Throughout 2025, Transnistria was also in conditions of energy savings, banking and export blockade by Chisinau. The volume of industrial production decreased by more than a quarter over the year, including at major enterprises such as the Moldavian Metallurgical Plant and the Rybnitsa Cement Plant.
— This is a very acute problem. Most Transnistrian enterprises are experiencing serious difficulties. They either don't work, or they work for a small load. Therefore, of course, it has become noticeably worse compared to what it was," Andrei Safonov, chairman of the Commission on Foreign Policy and International Relations of the Supreme Council of the PMR, told Izvestia.
How Russia can help the PMR
According to the MP, Pridnestrovie is waiting for financial support from Russia to pay for the supplied gas, as the price has become much higher.
— Due to the blockade by Moldova, exports of finished products from Transnistria, according to official data, decreased by 60% in 2025. Our budget revenues have become much smaller. Chisinau is counting on the suffocation of the PMR with the help of all kinds of extortion and restrictions," he said.
The mechanism that allowed the launch of gas supplies to Transnistria in 2025 was implemented through Russian credit and financial support. This made it possible to systematically and continuously provide the PMR with 3 million cubic meters of gas per day, noted Pridnestrovian Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev. However, this is less than the region has received in the last three decades. For example, in 2024, during the winter period, the PMR consumed about 3.7 million cubic meters.
"In 2025, Russia came to the aid of Tiraspol and did everything possible to ensure the energy supply of the left bank of the Dniester," Mikhail Galuzin emphasized. — Unfortunately, the termination of Ukrainian transit, as well as attempts by Chisinau and Brussels to condition the region's energy supply with politicized conditions, have led to the fact that the gas supplied to Transnistria is currently only enough to cover urgent social and industrial needs.
Moscow's contribution to providing the PMR with gas has been repeatedly noted in Tiraspol. Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, believes that the Russian Federation is capable of helping Transnistria with payments that could be made through third countries.
"Russia can transfer as much money to Pridnestrovie as is necessary to maintain the PMR at least at a minimum level," the analyst told Izvestia.
It is impossible to do this directly because of the sanctions. European and international banks often block payments related to Transnistria, considering such transactions suspicious or violating financial laws.
In addition, direct contractual relations with Transnistrian structures are legally impossible as long as Moscow officially recognizes Moldova's sovereignty over this territory. Gazprom supplies gas to the region on the basis of a contract with Moldovan Moldovagaz JSC (Gazprom controls 50% + one share of the company, the rest belong to the authorities of Moldova and Transnistria).
The contradictions between Chisinau and Tiraspol
In the context of the Middle East crisis, the Moldovan energy regulator extended Moldovagaz's powers to supply gas to Transnistria until June 30 (they ended on March 31). At the same time, the actual blockade of the PMR continues.
— The gas situation in Transnistria is difficult for several reasons. Firstly, there are no long-term contracts that previously solved the problem for months or even years ahead. Secondly, there are no direct supplies from Russia, and this forces us to look for roundabout ways, and, accordingly, difficulties arise with payment," said deputy Andrei Safonov.
Finally, gas to the PMR comes only from the territory of Moldova, and, according to Safonov, there are no guarantees that Chisinau will not try to complicate or stop supplies in the future in order to force Pridnestrovie to change its foreign policy course.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu
Meanwhile, Moldovan President Maia Sandu claims that the Transnistrian conflict settlement plan being developed by Chisinau presupposes external control of the PMR by the European Union. The authorities blame the "Tiraspol regime" for the problems of citizens and the consequences of the blockade. President of the PMR Vadim Krasnoselsky, in turn, called on the OSCE to facilitate the resumption of dialogue on the Transnistrian settlement.
Negotiations to resolve the conflict in the "5+2" format (Moldova, Transnistria, OSCE, Russia, Ukraine, observers from the United States and the EU) have been blocked since 2019. Tiraspol has repeatedly called for their resumption, but Sandu refused to do so after being elected in 2020. Russia has repeatedly stressed that it is open to resuming dialogue and advocates unfreezing this negotiation format.
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