Transdniestria Braces for Cold as Russian Gas Cut-Off Hits

The breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniestria has been plunged into a heating and hot water crisis following Russia's cessation of gas supplies via Ukraine, as reported by Reuters. The move, effective Wednesday, has left the predominantly Russian-speaking territory of 450,000 people facing a harsh winter.

"There is no heating or hot water," a representative of local energy company Tirasteploenergo told Reuters. The duration of the disruption remains unclear.

The gas cutoff stems from the expiration of a gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, amid the ongoing war. Transdniestria's leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky, acknowledged the difficult situation but stated that the region was somewhat prepared. He attributed the crisis to outstanding payment issues between Moldova and Gazprom, the Russian gas giant.

"Things will get better. Think about yourself, your family, your loved ones," Krasnoselsky urged residents.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the termination of gas transit as "one of Moscow's biggest defeats," calling on Europe to support Moldova through this "period of energy transformation."

Russia had been supplying approximately 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Transdniestria, including a power plant crucial for the entire Moldovan energy grid. Moldova, a nation of 2.5 million people aspiring to join the European Union, has a history of fraught relations with Russia and past gas payment disputes.

Moldova has announced plans to reduce its energy consumption by at least a third, aiming to generate 38% of its energy domestically, including 10% from renewable sources, with the remaining 62% to be imported from neighboring Romania. Government spokesman Daniel Voda assured the public that all Moldovan energy consumers were secure and that the country's thermal power plants were operating normally. He added that Moldova's gas reserves would be sufficient for the cold period.

Voda indicated that the government was offering support to Transdniestria's residents, seeking alternative solutions to restore heat and energy.

In Transdniestria, the local energy company's website detailed the disruption of heating and hot water services at 7 a.m. local time, with exemptions for facilities such as hospitals. Residents are advised to dress warmly, congregate in one room, insulate windows and doors, and use electric heaters. The company warned against using gas or electric stoves for heating, citing safety risks.

The temperature in Tiraspol, Transdniestria's main city, was 4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Olga, a local resident, described the lack of heat coming from radiators in her apartment building.

"We prepared two rooms for this emergency and installed electric fireplaces there for heating, since they promised not to disconnect us from the electricity," she told Reuters. "So we will hold on like this, hoping that this whole situation with gas is temporary."

Transdniestria's parliament had appealed to the Kremlin and the Russian parliament last month for a new agreement with Ukraine to ensure continued gas supplies. Moscow had pledged to protect its citizens and soldiers in Transdniestria.

This situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the significant impact of the ongoing war on energy infrastructure and civilian life.