Moldova opens Romania power line, says it buys no Russian gas

Moldova has put the Vulcănești Chișinău power line into service, connecting the country to Romania and the European grid, and President Maia Sandu said Moldova no longer buys Russian gas.

Why it matters: The line ends Moldova's physical dependence on the Transnistria power route that ran on Russian gas, the arrangement Moscow used as pressure on Chișinău for decades.

Data as of Ukrainska Pravda report of November 9, 2026 (in Ukrainian), read in full via the estate browser route, reporting President Maia Sandu's own statement on X. Single source: the announcement is the president's own words, but no Moldovan government release or second outlet has been read in this run. Developing item.

Moldova has launched the Vulcănești Chișinău power transmission line, which connects the country with Romania and the European energy system, President Maia Sandu announced. “For decades Moscow used energy to blackmail us. No more: Moldova does not buy Russian gas,” Sandu said, adding that two more transmission lines to Romania will follow soon.

Government controlled Moldova stopped buying Gazprom gas for the right bank of the Dniester in 2023, but Russian gas continued to reach the Moldovan power station in Transnistria, from which Moldova bought electricity. Sandu also said Moldova recently bought its first gas from Ukrainian private companies and is considering purchases of 10 to 50 million cubic metres from Ukraine at below market prices.

Moldova opens Romania power line, says it buys no Russian gas

Sources