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Transnistria Faces Heating Crisis as Russia Halts Gas Supply via Ukraine
Households in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria were left without heating and hot water on Wednesday after Russia ceased supplying gas through Ukraine, according to local reports.
“There is no heating or hot water,” confirmed an employee of Tirasteploenergo, the local energy company, speaking from Tiraspol, the region’s main city. The employee, who spoke to Reuters by phone, said it was unclear how long the disruption would last.
Gas Supply Halted Amid Transit Deal Expiry
The crisis follows the expiration of a gas transit deal between Russia and Ukraine, which effectively cut off the supply route to Transnistria. This pro-Russian territory, which declared independence from Moldova after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, had been reliant on Russian gas delivered through Ukraine.
A statement from Tirasteploenergo announced that heating services were discontinued at 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Essential facilities, including hospitals, were exempted from the cuts.
Residents were urged to adopt measures to conserve heat, such as using electric heaters, gathering family members in one room, and covering windows and balcony doors with blankets or thick curtains. However, the company warned against using gas or electric stoves for heating, citing safety concerns.
Appeal to Moscow and Ongoing Tensions
The local parliament in Transnistria had previously appealed to the Kremlin and Russian lawmakers to negotiate a renewed agreement with Ukraine to ensure continued gas supplies. While Moscow pledged to protect its citizens and stationed troops in the region, no resolution has been announced.
Approximately 1,500 Russian troops are deployed in Transnistria, which has maintained a fragile peace with Moldova since a brief post-Soviet conflict in 1992.
Broader Energy Implications
Until the transit agreement’s expiration, Russia supplied Moldova with around 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually, delivered through Transnistria.
Moldovan authorities have accused Moscow of leveraging the country’s energy dependence to sow instability, a claim Russia denies.
The energy shortage has exacerbated tensions in a region already grappling with geopolitical strains stemming from the war in Ukraine. As temperatures drop in the region, the absence of a reliable heating supply highlights the vulnerability of Transnistria’s dependence on Russian energy and the precariousness of its position amid regional disputes.
Officials have not provided a timeline for restoring gas supplies, leaving residents uncertain as they face the winter months.
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Russia Demands SWIFT Reconnection as Condition to Revive Black Sea Initiative
Russia has set forth a key demand for the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative—reconnecting its Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT financial system. This request, which falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU), comes amid ongoing negotiations between global powers on the war in Ukraine.
Partial Ceasefire and Black Sea Security Agreement
Following recent talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a partial ceasefire specifically covering energy facilities. While this fell short of the broader ceasefire pushed by former President Donald Trump, the parties also agreed on measures to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels in the Black Sea and to prevent their use for military purposes.
However, the Kremlin quickly detailed additional conditions, demanding the lifting of sanctions on food exports, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and cargo insurance. Most notably, Russia is insisting that Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in agricultural trade be reinstated on SWIFT, a global messaging system that facilitates secure financial transactions.
EU’s Role and Sanctions History
SWIFT, headquartered in Belgium, falls under EU regulations. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU removed several Russian banks from SWIFT in 2022, including Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Rosselkhozbank. The exclusion was a significant blow to Russia’s financial system, as it restricted the country’s ability to conduct international transactions.
Rosselkhozbank, a state-owned institution, plays a critical role in facilitating payments for Russia’s agricultural exports, a major revenue source through the global sale of wheat, barley, and corn. While the EU has not directly sanctioned Russian agricultural exports, the banking restrictions have complicated payments for these transactions, leading to the collapse of the initial Black Sea Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.
Diplomatic Tensions and Uncertain Outcomes
The demand to reinstate Rosselkhozbank puts the EU in a difficult position. Granting this request could signal a willingness to make concessions, potentially encouraging Russia to seek further sanctions relief. However, refusing it could provoke tensions with the Trump administration, which is eager to secure a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed easing sanctions, arguing that they must remain in place until Russia ends its military aggression. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this stance, stating that sanctions would only be lifted after Russia takes concrete steps toward peace.
As EU sanctions require unanimous renewal every six months, any member state could disrupt the process. Hungary, which has previously expressed opposition to sanctions, could leverage this situation to push for changes when restrictions are up for review on July 31.
Future of SWIFT and Global Financial Pressures
While the EU holds the power to reinstate Rosselkhozbank’s SWIFT access, the U.S. could signal leniency by ensuring that those engaging with the bank avoid legal repercussions. Analysts suggest that Russia’s demand may be a strategic move to test both Washington and Brussels, pressuring the EU to reconsider its stance on financial restrictions.
For now, the EU remains firm in its approach. France has indicated that sanctions should remain unless Russia agrees to a full ceasefire, reparations, and security guarantees for Ukraine. However, with negotiations ongoing and international pressure mounting, the debate over SWIFT and broader sanctions relief is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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