In the pro-Russian region of Moldova, thousands are left without gas or heat

Authorities said that more than 51,000 households in Moldova's pro Russian separatist enclave were without gas, and 1,500 apartment blocks had no heating for winter. Moldova and Russia have been trading blame over an escalating crisis.

Transdniestria (a breakaway region dominated by Russian speakers along the Ukrainian border) had been receiving Russian gas through Ukraine for decades. It used it to produce electricity that was sold to the rest Moldova and provided 80% of its power.

This gas, along with the flow to Central and Eastern Europe stopped on New Year's Day after Kyiv refused a transit agreement that had been in place for nearly three years during which Russia and Ukraine were at war.

Transdniestrian officials announced on Telegram Monday that gas was not available in 122 settlements as of the morning of Monday. Only small amounts of gas were supplied to certain apartments for cooking. The authorities ordered that schools would not reopen following the winter break. At least 131 kindergartens and schools were left without heat.

Vadim Krsnoselsky said in a televised address that there is no one person in Transdniestria responsible for this situation.

Gas pumped via Ukraine is the main way Russia supports the separatist region. This region broke away from the central government of Moldova in a short war in 1992, and hosts still 1,500 Russian troops.

Moldova summoned on Monday a Russian diplomat and accused Moscow falsely of blaming them for the Transdniestria Crisis, which they said Moscow was artificially inflaming to undermine their government before this year's parliamentary elections.

Since its independence in 1991, when the Soviet Union broke up, Moldova has had pro-Western, pro-Russian, and pro-Western governments.

The Moldovan Prime Minster Dorin Recean informed reporters at a press conference that the disruptions in water supply began on Monday.

"The purpose of all this is to create instability in that region, but more importantly to influence the outcome of the parliamentary election in Moldova. "They want to create a pro-Russian Government ...," Recean stated.

The Russian foreign ministry expressed alarm at the deterioration of the situation in Transdniestria and accused Moldova and Western countries of creating the crisis artificially and falsely blaming Moscow.

Since the Russian gas supply was stopped with the start of this year, Moldova met its energy needs by importing 60% of its requirements from Romania. It claims that it offered to help the separatists but the offer was turned down.

Krasnoselsky called the reports of an offer of aid "lies" stating that Moldova's aim was to "strangulate" the enclave.

He said that neither Moldova nor other countries had offered assistance. He has encouraged residents to use wood for fires.

In a late Monday statement, authorities in the region announced that on Tuesday their rolling power cut regime would double. This means they will be implementing it twice daily for four hours.

The Moldovan government has blamed the energy crisis on Russian Gazprom for refusing to supply gas contracted to Moldova through an alternative route.

Gazprom announced that it would stop exports to Moldova as of January 1, due to unpaid Moldovan bills, which Moscow claims total $709 millions. Moldova disputes this and says the figure is $8.6million. (Reporting and editing by Peter Graff, Mark Heinrich and Tom Balmforth)

(source: Reuters)