The EU urged Transnistria to accept energy aid from Moldova.

The European Commission called on the authorities of Transnistria not to obstruct the supply of alternative energy sources to the region following the cessation of gas supplies from Gazprom.

This was reported by the publication Politico, referring to a statement by EU representative Anita Hipper.

'We urge Tiraspol to cooperate with Chisinau to resolve the situation in the interest of the local population,' Hipper stated.

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Rechan accused Moscow of escalating the conflict. According to him, Russia is trying to provoke a security crisis in the region, using energy as a weapon. He also noted that the cessation of gas supplies to the Russia-controlled Transnistria is related to the illegal presence of Russian troops there.

After the gas supply was halted on January 1, central heating was turned off in the cities of Transnistria, leaving gas only for cooking. According to Transnistrian authorities, the gas reserves will last for 20 days. The Moldovan power plant switched to coal generation.

As of January 3, rolling blackouts began in the region. On January 4, the Moldovan metallurgical plant stopped working, and the bread factory in Ribnita, which produced about 2 tons of bread per day, ceased operations.

It should be noted that Transnistria has been under the control of Russia for a long Time. Russian troops were introduced into the region under the guise of peacekeeping forces, allowing the Kremlin to maintain its influence in this territory for decades. It is noteworthy that, simultaneously, the energy crisis may serve as a catalyst to link the region with Moldova.

The cessation of gas supplies and problems with heating and electricity create serious challenges for the separatist regime

It is worth noting that the region has significant energy potential. The Transnistrian thermal power plant has several free coal blocks and modernized gas blocks with high efficiency, which could theoretically ensure the energy independence of the region. However, the refusal to cooperate with Chisinau and dependence on Russian gas have led to the current crisis situation.