The crisis has led to widespread disruptions, including rolling blackouts and the suspension of heating and hot water in many areas.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting, Transnistria’s leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said that the government of the self-proclaimed Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) is working to mitigate the impact of the crisis but acknowledged the growing challenges.

“Today, we can openly speak about a humanitarian catastrophe that is gaining momentum,” Krasnoselsky said.

“We are doing everything we can to prevent the most severe consequences, working tirelessly on this.”

The energy crisis follows the suspension of Russian gas deliveries to Transnistria, a consequence of halted transit through Ukraine.

The disruption has left many residents without heating, hot water, or consistent electricity, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency in the region’s economy.

Accusations of political pressure

Krasnoselsky criticized Moldova, accusing it of exploiting the crisis to exert political pressure on Transnistria. He dismissed any notion of capitulation to Moldova’s demands.

“If anyone thinks that Transnistria will fall to its knees and beg to join Moldova, allowing you to humiliate the Transnistrian people as you have done before, you are mistaken,” he said.

The PMR leader said that the region is committed to maintaining its autonomy, describing Transnistria as home to a “multinational people” who have chosen “a multinational, not mono-national, path of development in their history.”

Transnistria, a narrow strip of land bordering Ukraine, declared independence from Moldova in 1990 but remains unrecognized internationally.

Gas supplies to the region ceased on January 1, exacerbating fears of a prolonged humanitarian and economic crisis.

Krasnoselsky said that preparations for such a scenario had been underway throughout the previous year, but efforts to reach a resolution were unsuccessful.

“We wanted to believe until the end that it wouldn’t happen, that some agreement would be reached, but that didn’t happen,” he said.

The crisis poses significant challenges for the unrecognized republic, which has relied heavily on Russian support for energy and economic stability.