At 06:00 on New Year's Day, the Russian energy giant Gazprom announced that the flow of fossil gas to Europe through Ukraine has now ceased. This means that no Russian gas transported through the country will reach Kuciurgan – Moldova's largest power plant, which produces electricity for two-thirds of the country.
"Russian blackmail"
The small nation, which is a candidate country to the EU, introduced a two-month state of emergency already in early December. Last week, Russian Gazprom also announced that it would stop gas deliveries to the country due to a dispute over a debt, which triggered furious accusations from the Moldovan leadership about Russian "bullying tactics" and "blackmail."
The Kremlin has once again resorted to energy blackmail to influence the 2025 parliamentary elections and undermine our European path, said Moldova's President Maia Sandu.
Difficult winter
Last week, the government decided to implement a range of energy-saving measures. From the turn of the year, lighting in public and commercial buildings will be reduced by 30 percent. The use of elevators will also be restricted.
In the capital Chisinau, residents are now worried about what the Russian gas stop will entail.
It's terrifying, no one knows what will happen. I've bought some candles and a generator, says 21-year-old student Cristina to the AFP news agency.
Even postal worker Petru Murzin fears that the winter will be difficult.
We have entered a crisis that is quite difficult to solve ... Price increases are one thing, but when there is no gas at all, it's something entirely different. There will be no heating, no light, says 39-year-old Murzin to AP.
Moldova has announced that it will try to compensate for the electricity shortage by buying electricity from neighboring and EU country Romania.
