The Russian Embassy in Chisinau accused Moldova of the energy crisis in Transnistria, stating that «the deliberate ignoring by the Chisinau authorities of numerous problems in relations with «Gazprom» is the main reason for the current crisis situation in the region».
The diplomatic mission noted that the energy crisis in Transnistria is also caused by the actions of Ukraine and the West, and «pro-government media in Chisinau and Kiev cynically try to shift responsibility» to Russia and «spread false and manipulative claims that «Moscow abandoned Tiraspol» to undermine the trust of the residents of the left bank of the Dniester in Russia».
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, in turn, claims that Moscow is trying to «mask the true cause» of the crisis and uses the unrecognized republic to undermine stability in Moldova.
Earlier, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy of Moldova, Constantin Borosan, stated that the Transnistrian «Tiraspoltransgaz» refused the offer of assistance from Moldovan state companies in importing gas from other countries after the cessation of supplies from Russia. The authorities of Transnistria refuted his statement.
On January 2, almost all industrial enterprises in Transnistria, except for food ones, stopped working due to the cessation of gas supplies and the resulting energy deficit. Heating and hot water were also turned off. On January 5, water supply disruptions began, leaving several villages and districts of the capital of Transnistria, Tiraspol, without water.
Rolling blackouts last eight hours a day, twice a day for four hours each.
School holidays have been extended until January 20. In the conditions of rolling blackouts, remote learning is impossible, and there is no heating in any of the schools in the republic.
The energy crisis arose in Transnistria due to the cessation of Russian gas supplies to the EU through Ukraine from January 1. In addition, «Gazprom» stopped supplying gas to Moldova under the pretext of the accumulated debt of «Moldovagaz» for previous deliveries. Moldova recognizes only a small part of the financial claims made. In mid-December, a state of emergency in the energy sector was introduced in Moldova for 60 days. Meanwhile, Moldova, unlike unrecognized Transnistria, can purchase electricity on European markets: in particular, the country's Ministry of Energy promised to cover the deficit with supplies from neighboring Romania.