--- title: "Moldova Announces Complete Rejection of Russian Gas Amid Launch of New Power Transmission Line" description: "On November 8, Moldova opened the Vulcănești–Chișinău line, and President Maia Sandu announced a complete rejection of Russian gas. The country is expanding energy ties with Romania and the EU." date: 2026-11-08T22:31:03.649Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/moldova-rejection-russian-gas tags: [moldova, energy, russian-gas, power-line, maya-sandu, eu] author: "Darya Fomina" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Moldova Announces Complete Rejection of Russian Gas Amid Launch of New Power Transmission Line ![Industrial gas plants and pipelines at sunset against the sky](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/08/moldova-otkaz-ot-rossiyskogo-gaza/moldova-otkaz-ot-rossiyskogo-gaza-1.webp) ## Key Points - On November 8, 2026, the Vulcănești–Chișinău power transmission line, approximately 157 km long, was launched in Moldova. - President Maia Sandu stated that Moldova no longer buys Russian gas and plans two more lines to Romania. - The new route reduces dependence on the Moldovan SDPP in Transnistria and forms a supply route from Romania and the EU. - Moscow rejects accusations of "energy blackmail," while the opposition claims agreements have been reached to resume gas supplies. On November 8, 2026, the Vulcănești–Chișinău high-voltage power transmission line was officially commissioned in Moldova. The route is approximately 157 km long: it connects the southern part of the country with the capital and establishes an additional route for electricity supplies from Romania and the European energy system. At the opening ceremony, President Maia Sandu stated that Moldova no longer purchases Russian gas and called the launch of the line another step towards the republic's energy independence from Moscow. ### New Infrastructure and Its Significance According to the head of state, the Vulcănești–Chișinău line makes it possible to diversify electricity supply routes and reduce the risks of power outages. The key objective of the new route is to gradually replace the electricity that Moldova previously received from the Moldovan SDPP in Transnistria, a facility owned by Russia's Inter RAO that met a significant portion of the country's needs. "No one will be able to blackmail us anymore, cut off electricity, or turn off the heating," Sandu emphasized, adding that for decades energy has been used by Moscow as a tool of pressure. ### "Zero Russian Gas" and Future Plans In her post on the social network X, the President of Moldova formulated the authorities' position directly: "Moldova buys zero Russian gas, and two more power lines to Romania are on the way." Chișinău's plans include the construction of the Bălți–Suceava and Strășeni–Gutinaș routes. The latter project, known as the Trump Liberty Line, involves further integration of the energy systems of Moldova and Romania; the US has approved $130 million in financing for its implementation. At the same time, according to specialized publications, the Vulcănești–Chișinău line was implemented on credit: the World Bank allocated a €61 million loan for its construction, and the transition to more expensive imported current from Romania is already reflected in rising tariffs for consumers. ### Position of Moscow and the Opposition The Russian Foreign Ministry and Gazprom have repeatedly rejected accusations of "energy blackmail," emphasizing that the Russian side supplied energy resources to the republic for decades and fulfilled contractual obligations, while the Moldovan authorities, according to their version, terminated cooperation themselves. The opposition also makes statements contradicting the authorities' course: Party of Socialists leader Igor Dodon stated that during his visit to Moscow, agreements were reached on resuming Russian gas supplies. Thus, the issue of gas supply remains the subject of public statements by both sides. ### Broader European Context Moldova's move away from Russian gas fits into the overall trend of the European Union, which intends to reduce Russian gas imports to zero by the end of 2027, despite the energy crisis. Hungary, in turn, also plans to stop purchases of Russian natural gas by the autumn of 2027. In addition, it became known that the European Commission has ruled out the resumption of the Nord Stream gas pipeline after the end of the Russia-Ukraine war. The launch of the Vulcănești–Chișinău line, according to EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, has become an important step toward finally overcoming Moldova's dependence on Russian energy resources. ## Accounts differ ### Nature of energy relations and the reason for the cessation of Russian gas supplies - **President of Moldova Maia Sandu:** Moldova no longer buys Russian gas, and energy dependence on Moscow has been used as a tool of pressure for decades ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/moldova-zayavila-povnu-vidmovu-vid-rosiyskogo-1794174724.html)) - **Russian Foreign Ministry and Gazprom:** The Russian side reliably supplied Moldova with energy resources for decades and fulfilled contractual obligations, while the Moldovan authorities, at the prompting of the West, destroyed cooperation ([finance.rambler.ru](https://finance.rambler.ru/economics/57379106-nol-rossiyskogo-gaza-sandu-obyavila-o-polnom-otkaze-no-tarify-pochemu-to-vyrosli/)) - **Igor Dodon (Party of Socialists of Moldova):** During a visit to Moscow, agreements were reached on resuming Russian gas supplies to the republic ([news.rambler.ru](https://news.rambler.ru/world/57378843-sandu-zayavila-o-polnom-otkaze-moldavii-ot-rossiyskogo-gaza/)) *Where they agree:* Moldova previously imported Russian gas, and the issue of gas supply remains the subject of public statements by both sides ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Молдова заявила о полном отказе от российского газа](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/moldova-zayavila-povnu-vidmovu-vid-rosiyskogo-1794174724.html) - Primary source: launch of the Vulcănești–Chișinău line (~157 km), Sandu's statement on zero Russian gas, plans for two lines, Trump Liberty Line ($130M), EU and Hungary context. - [Санду заявила о полном отказе Молдавии от российского газа](https://news.rambler.ru/world/57378843-sandu-zayavila-o-polnom-otkaze-moldavii-ot-rossiyskogo-gaza/) - Confirms Sandu's statement on X and the commissioning of the line; adds I. Dodon's statement on agreements in Moscow to resume gas supplies. - [«Ноль российского газа»: Санду объявила о полном отказе, но тарифы почему-то выросли](https://finance.rambler.ru/economics/57379106-nol-rossiyskogo-gaza-sandu-obyavila-o-polnom-otkaze-no-tarify-pochemu-to-vyrosli/) - Adds World Bank loan of €61 million, tariff growth, replacement of Moldovan SDPP energy with imports; position of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Gazprom rejecting "blackmail". - [Евросоюз настаивает на отказе от российского газа в 2027 году, несмотря на энергокризис](https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2026/10/06/29462521.shtml) - Context: The EU intends to reduce Russian gas imports to zero by the end of 2027. ## FAQ ### What is the Vulcănești–Chișinău line? It is a high-voltage power transmission line approximately 157 km long, connecting the southern part of Moldova with the capital and providing an additional route for electricity supplies from Romania and the European energy system. ### Does Moldova buy Russian gas? President Maia Sandu stated that Moldova buys "zero Russian gas." The Russian side disputes this picture, pointing to previously fulfilled contractual obligations. ### What other energy connection projects is Moldova planning? Plans include the construction of the Bălți–Suceava and Strășeni–Gutinaș (Trump Liberty Line) lines, for which the US has approved $130 million. ### Who financed the Vulcănești–Chișinău line? According to specialized publications, the project was implemented on credit: the World Bank allocated a €61 million loan.