In the capital of Transnistria, a Kremlin-backed microstate sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine, the festive New Year’s lights have gone dark ahead of schedule. This separatist sliver of Moldova will run out of energy in three weeks,

While Moscow and Chisinau blame each other for the situation after the gas cut, many of the affected inhabitants view themselves as casualties of political games.

The issue lies in the fact that gas shipments to Transnistria through intermediaries breach Moldovan law. Read also: Kremlin’s gas gamble: Transnistria left in crisis "Gazprom, as the majority shareholder of Moldovagaz,

Alexander Slusar, a former member of the Moldovan parliament, a "representative of civil society" at Energocom, is confident that the Russian concern Gazprom will soon resume supplies to Transnistria.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has reiterated the country's readiness to assist the breakaway Transnistrian region, particularly in addressing its ongoing energy crisis. Speaking in a recent interview with Newsmaker,

The buzzing sound of chainsaws and generators is now common in Varnița, a village of 5,000 that borders Moldova's Russian-controlled region of Transnistria. Located next to the Russian-controlled city of Bender (Tighina),

The Russian authorities and the leadership of Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria are reportedly exploring a plan to supply gas to the region through purchases on the European spot market, facilitated by an intermediary company,

The separatist Moldovan region of Transnistria has agreed to purchase natural gas from Moldovagaz to address its ongoing energy crisis, the region’s Moscow-backed leader Vadim Krasnoselsky said Monday.