Transnistria cuts off gas to state institutions as transit through Ukraine ends

The authorities of Moldova's separatist Transnistria on Sunday cut off gas supplies to several institutions as the agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine expires at the end of the year. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN .

Tiraspoltransgaz, the gas distribution company in the region, reported that 12 state institutions were cut off in the area of Dubasari and Bender, on the border with government-controlled areas of Moldova.

These include four educational institutions and a medical facility, as well as a police station and a prosecutor's office.

The cutoff was introduced a day after Russian energy giant Gazpromsaid it would suspend gas exports to Moldova on January 1 due to Moldova's unpaid debt.

Moldova denies allegations of debt for past gas supplies and accuses Russia of destabilizing the country.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned Gazprom's decision on the eve of a complete cessation of Russian gas exports through Ukraine. Moldova urged Gazprom to consider other routes of supply to the country, in particular, through the Turkstream pipeline in Turkey, and from there through Bulgaria and Romania.

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Russia supplies Moldova with about 2 billion cubic meters of gas a year, which is delivered through Ukraine to pro-Russian separatist Transnistria, where a thermal power plant produces cheap electricity that is sold to government-controlled areas of Moldova.

Both Moldova and Transnistria  have introduced a state of emergency, including measures to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours.