Russia offers 'help' to breakaway Moldovan region after cutting gas

Russia offers ‘help’ to breakaway Moldovan region after cutting gas

/ 12:42 PM January 17, 2025

The leader of the breakaway Moldovan region Transnistria says "of course we need help," as a shutdown in Russian gas supplies plunges the separatist state into crisis. In a statement after a meeting of the region's "security council", Vadim Krasnoselsky blames Moldova for not providing "real" help and "obstructing" Transnistria's economic activities. (AFP)

The leader of the breakaway Moldovan region Transnistria says “of course we need help,” as a shutdown in Russian gas supplies plunges the separatist state into crisis. In a statement after a meeting of the region’s “security council”, Vadim Krasnoselsky blames Moldova for not providing “real” help and “obstructing” Transnistria’s economic activities. (AFP)

Moscow, Russia — The Kremlin on Thursday said it was willing provide gas to Transnistria, after Russia’s cut-off of supplies this month plunged the separatist region of Moldova into an energy crisis.

But it provided no details of how, whether or when it would be willing to resume supplies to the pro-Moscow region, which has been without heating and hot water for more than two weeks.

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READ: Breakaway Transnistria says it has less than a month of gas left

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Russia halted gas supplies to Transnistria on January 1 over a debt dispute with the Moldovan government, leaving the 400,000 residents there without any heating or hot water.

“Moscow is ready to provide help to Transnistria,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, without offering specific details.

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“But purely logistically, actions must be taken from the Moldovan side to ensure the supply of gas. So far, we have not heard any statements about their readiness,” he said.

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Moscow has blamed Kyiv and Chisinau of stoking an energy crisis in the region.

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Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas on January 1 — the same day Russia’s Gazprom cut supplies to Transnistria.

Moldova says Russia could supply Transnistria through an alternative route that runs via Turkey and up through the Balkans.

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The Transnistrian leader on Wednesday said he “hoped” Moscow would restore some gas supplies “in the near future” to help stave off a humanitarian crisis in the region.

But in a televised statement following a trip to Russia for talks, he conceded that there was no concrete agreement.

“As for the routes, payment, transit, these are all a matter of negotiations. At the moment it is too early to answer these questions,” Vadim Krasnoselsky said.

‘Tricks’

With temperatures hitting freezing point, people have been forced to burn wood or plug in electric heaters for warmth.

Unable to cope with the demand, rolling blackouts across the Soviet-era grid have been introduced and local officials have warned the economy is at risk of “collapse.”

Internationally recognized as part of Moldova, Transnistria declared independence at the end of the Soviet Union and has been reliant on Moscow’s financial support ever since. Russia has around 1,500 troops stationed there.

The rest of Moldova — which used to receive electricity from a major gas-powered plant located in Transnistria — has been importing electricity from Romania.

Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean on Wednesday said it appeared Russia would resume gas deliveries at reduced volumes — thus not enabling the power station to restore electricity supplies beyond Transnistria.

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“Chisinau will not accept this game, these tricks,” he told reporters.

TAGS: energy crisis, Moldova, Russia

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