Tiraspol, February 27. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. About 220 thousand Russian citizens live in Pridnestrovie, and protecting their legitimate interests is an absolute foreign policy priority for the Russian Federation. This was emphasized by the Russian Ambassador to Moldova Oleg Ozerov in his interview with journalists.
"In order to correctly understand our relations, we must proceed from the fact that 220 thousand of our citizens live in Pridnestrovie. This is absolutely accurate data, they are based on documents that are in the consular department,” Oleg Ozerov noted. “We cannot be indifferent to the citizens of our country, we are obliged by the Constitution /of the Russian Federation/ to protect their rights and interests."
According to the diplomat, this position was demonstrated during the energy crisis that engulfed Pridnestrovie since the beginning of 2025. The acute phase of the crisis was overcome with the active participation of the Russian side.
"The steps we are taking are aimed at creating decent living conditions for people," Oleg Ozerov emphasized. "This small ray of hope that the gas crisis was resolved on all humanities basis, so as not to let people die of hunger and cold, this, it seems to me, is the most important thing. This is a very important moment, a kind of platform of hope that we can continue to move in this direction without sanctions and hand-wringing." Let us recall that since January 1, Pridnestrovie has been left without natural gas due to the cessation of fuel transit through the territory of Ukraine and unsettled financial relations between PJSC Gazprom and JSC Moldovagaz. As a result, most industrial enterprises in the PMR were shut down, and heat was no longer supplied to multi-story buildings. Villages and the private residential sector in cities were left without gas.
Supplies were resumed due to assistance provided by the Russian Federation. Thanks to the Russian loan, Pridnestrovie can purchase fuel on the European market. However, the volumes supplied today are not yet sufficient to resume industrial operations and supply hot water to the population.
