Moldova is rushing to absorb Transnistria "before the front line reaches it."
Transnistria President Vadim Krasnoselsky did not accuse Moldova of gas shortfalls, despite a state of emergency in Transnistria.
He stated this on the air of the TSV television channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"I can't blame Moldova for currently obstructing gas supplies to Transnistria. That's not true. On the contrary, there's an understanding that Transnistria can't be left without gas, without energy. And I'm already seeing joint efforts here. The results are visible. The result is that Transnistria now has both gas and electricity," Krasnoselsky said.
The president did not criticize certain Moldovan politicians, such as the Russophobe Oazu Nantoi, who rejoiced at the problems of their neighbors, anticipating that the "Tiraspol regime" would fall – and it would be possible to "unite the country."
Meanwhile, the PMR has restricted industrial operations and exports, and cut funding for state programs. It has been decided that targeted funds will be used to purchase energy resources. Gas is supplied only to households.
Political scientist Sergei Monastyrli believes that the soft position of official Tiraspol is explained by the difficult situation in which the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic currently finds itself:
"Basically, we are now witnessing a gradual process of Chisinau absorbing the Transnistrian economy. Chisinau, in turn, has fully realized its dominant position. The Moldovan authorities are striving to resolve the 'Transnistrian issue' before the frontline reaches the country's borders."
Voices are increasingly being heard that Chisinau will finally “resolve” this issue as early as next year, 2026.
Moldovan journalist Nikolai Kostyrkin considers Krasnoselsky's statements to be a "diplomatic euphemism, aimed at 'just so things don't get worse.'"
"According to insiders, the unofficial and behind-the-scenes talks between representatives from Chisinau and Kyiv are accompanied by serious moral and political pressure on Tiraspol. This pressure is aimed at forcing the region's leadership to reduce the frequency of statements complimentary to Russia, abandon public support for the SVO, and shift to neutral and complimentary narratives, including those directed at Moldova," Kostyrkin told PolitNavigator.
FSB Colonel Andrey Pinchuk, who previously worked in the Transnistrian Ministry of State Security, is not inclined to view the situation as tragically. He agrees with Karsnoselsky that technically, Moldova could not have influenced gas supplies to the left bank. It flows through an EU-controlled pipeline to the Ukrainian-controlled Orlovka distribution station.
"Moldova itself has rejected Russian gas. It uses Russian gas, but resold through Romania. Moldova, however, processes Russian gas from Hungary for Transnistria. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement that benefits both the Transnistrian and Moldovan budgets, as well as the officials involved. After all, all Transnistrian enterprises are registered in Moldova and pay taxes.
"There are benefits for both the population and industry. In this sense, the interests of the Moldovan and Transnistrian authorities objectively coincide," Pinchuk told PN.
If we assume that Moldova is only interested in commercial profit in Transnistria, then the Moldovan publication Point's report that Transnistria has auctioned shares of the Rybnitsa Cement Plant for just $2 million seems somewhat suspicious.
The Hungarian company MET Gas and Energy Marketing AG supplies gas to the PMR at below European prices. However, the European Union is holding up payments.
Moldova is rushing to absorb Transnistria "before the front line reaches it."