In Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, Petru Murzin, a 39-year-old postal worker, is preparing for a challenging winter ahead. He is worried about a potential energy shortage that could leave many Moldovans without heating or light. This concern is valid as Russia’s state-owned energy company Gazprom plans to cut off gas supplies to Moldova on Jan. 1 due to an alleged $709 million debt. However, Moldova’s pro-Western government disputes this figure and accuses Moscow of using energy as a political tool to destabilize the country. Murzin expressed his worries about the crisis, stating that price increases are one thing, but the complete lack of gas is a different level of concern. The gas cutoff will affect the Kuciurgan power plant in Transnistria, a separatist region supported by Russia, which generates a significant portion of Moldova’s electricity. Murzin fears that this situation will lead to a difficult year with no heating or light for many residents. The looming crisis has led to Moldova’s parliament voting to impose a state of emergency in the energy sector to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Transnistria. Observers believe that Russia may be trying to exacerbate tensions between Moldova and Transnistria to influence upcoming elections. In response, Moldova has implemented energy-saving measures to cope with the situation. Murzin and others hope for a serious resolution to the crisis and responsible use of power resources. Moldova’s Prime Minister has accused Moscow of using energy as a political weapon, emphasizing that his government does not recognize the debt claimed by Gazprom.
“Illegitimized by an international audit,” he stated. “This ruling reaffirms the Kremlin’s deliberate move to deprive the people of Transnistria of essential utilities like electricity and heating during the harsh winter months,” he declared. Iuliana, a 30-year-old resident of Chisinau who preferred not to disclose her last name, expressed concerns about the power outages potentially disrupting her online work and the looming possibility of facing freezing temperatures without proper heating in a country with approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. “We are apprehensive, but the absence of snow and relatively mild temperatures allow us to manage by using heating sparingly, perhaps only in the evenings if we are working in an office,” she shared. “However, as someone who works from home, I will be directly impacted by these outages.” She also pointed out that Moldova has encountered various crises in recent years, but the current challenges with power and gas supply mark a new and concerning development for the country. President Maia Sandu of Moldova criticized Russia over Gazprom’s decision, assuring the public that the country has sufficient gas reserves for the upcoming heating season. She pledged to implement measures to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply and outlined plans to offer humanitarian aid to the residents of Transnistria. “The Kremlin’s resort to energy manipulation is yet another attempt to sow instability, influence the outcome of the 2025 parliamentary elections, and hinder Moldova’s path towards European integration,” she emphasized. “In such times, it is vital for us to stand together, demonstrate solidarity, and have faith in Moldova and its citizens, while also using energy resources judiciously.” Olga Rosca, an advisor to President Sandu, informed the press that for most of Moldova, excluding Transnistria, significant disruptions in electricity supply are not anticipated. She disclosed that the cheaper electricity previously sourced from the Transnistrian region would be substituted with more expensive imports from the European Union. “However, the situation in Transnistria is dire, and any crisis there will undoubtedly have far-reaching ramifications across the entire country,” she cautioned. Moldova has repeatedly accused Russia of waging an extensive “hybrid war” by interfering in elections, funding anti-government protests, and orchestrating large-scale disinformation campaigns to undermine the government and obstruct the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. The privatization of the Kuciurgan plant in 2004 by Transnistrian authorities has been a subject of contention and has exacerbated the ongoing energy crisis in the region.
