The choked gas from Russia had immediate consequences in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria. The first days of the new year were marred by power outages and a lack of hot water and central heating.
The background is that Ukraine decided not to extend the agreement with the Russian state oil company Gazprom before the turn of the year, which stops the flow of Russian gas through Ukraine to other European countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russia should not be allowed to “earn billions more on our blood.”
Slovakia on Ukraine’s decision: “Irrational”
The European Commission has supported Ukraine’s decision.
But Slovakia calls Ukraine’s actions “irrational”. Prime Minister Robert Fico has said that the government is considering measures against Ukraine, which include stopping the electricity supply to the country.
– Slovakia has had a “buddy price” for gas through this agreement. That is the biggest reason for a high pitch. You get rid of a very advantageous deal, says Mikael Höök, energy researcher at Uppsala University.
Moldova: “A security crisis”
At the same time, Moldova accuses Russia of using the gas as a tool to promote pro-Russian forces in the country.
Before the turn of the year, Gazprom announced it would cut off gas exports to Moldova due to what it said were unpaid debts of $709 million, an amount Moldova denies.
Moldova’s electricity supply comes mostly from a power plant in Moscow-friendly Transnistria, which in connection with the gas stop has switched to coal. According to the region, the coal stock is estimated to last for just over two months.
– We are treating this as a security crisis aimed at enabling pro-Russian forces to return to power in Moldova, says the country’s Prime Minister Dorin Recea.
Could promote a political crisis
Moldova has candidate status as an EU country and last autumn underwent an election marred by accusations of pro-Russian influence operations.
– An energy crisis in Moldova could cause a pro-Russian policy to be more embraced by the people because many people primarily want to be able to cook and have access to hot water, says Mikael Höök.