The breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova is grappling with a severe industrial halt following the cessation of Russian gas supplies.

The shutdown has forced nearly all industrial companies, except those involved in food production, to cease operations entirely.

This primarily Russian-speaking region, home to about 450,000 people, declared independence from Moldova during the tumultuous collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.

The sudden gas shortage has inflicted a swift and painful blow, highlighting the region’s acute economic dependency on Russia.

The situation underscores the complex geopolitical tensions that continue to impact local and regional economies.