Russian gas shipments through Ukraine end; creating trouble for Transnistria

With temperatures dipping below freezing this week in Moldova's Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria, the end of an agreement to ship natural gas from Russia through Ukraine has led to rolling blackouts, idle factories and a lack of hot water.

Ukraine decided not to renew a five-year gas transfer deal with Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom. The agreement, which was negotiated before the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, allowed natural gas shipments across Ukrainian territories to countries in Europe.

Before the war, Russian pipelines supplied 40% of Europe's natural gas. Now, that figure is about 8%, according to data from the European Commission.

Ukraine's energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, confirmed Kyiv had stopped the transit "in the interest of national security," according to the Associated Press.

The European Commission has repeatedly emphasized that ending the transfer of Russian natural gas across Ukraine was not a surprise and that countries had time to prepare for it.

But in Transnistria, a sliver of territory wedged between the Dniester River and the Ukrainian border, the end of the agreement is a serious matter. The pro-Russia separatist enclave, which fought against Moldova in 1992, declared a state of emergency over the end of the shipments.

Moldova's Foreign Ministry told VOA in a statement that parts of the country west of the Dniester River -- which includes most of Moldova's population and the nation's capital, Chișinau — was preparing to stop supplies from Russia and has been buying gas on European markets, albeit at a higher price.

Moldovan authorities said they offered to help the breakaway region obtain gas from European markets. In response, Transnistria's "foreign ministry" claimed Moldova was attempting "to manipulate public opinion by providing false information."

In a statement issued on January 6, it said: "Transnistria has not received any specific forms of assistance or adequate practical support from the Moldovan side. There is none today."

Moldova's pro-Western prime minister, Dorin Recean, said that by "jeopardizing the future of the protectorate it has supported for three decades in an attempt to destabilize Moldova, Russia is demonstrating the inevitable outcome for all its allies: betrayal and isolation."

"We view this as a security crisis aimed at allowing pro-Russian forces to return to power in Moldova and use our territory as a weapon against Ukraine, with which we share a 1,200-kilometer border," Recean said.

"The Moldovan government remains committed to supporting all citizens with simple solutions for those in the Transnistrian region. Alternative energy solutions such as biomass systems, generators, humanitarian aid and basic medical supplies are ready to be delivered if the separatist leadership accepts support," he added.

Oazu Nantoi, a member of the Moldovan parliament, said he also believes that Transnistria is refusing help from official Moldovan authorities on the Kremlin's orders.

Nantoi told VOA that most of Moldova is supplied until March.

"There, we are no longer dependent on Gazprom's monopoly. We can buy gas at market prices," he said. "Sometimes these prices bite, but Gazprom cannot influence consumption."