Ukraine and Moldova have moved in tandem to impose heightened controls around Transnistria, cutting off Russia’s traditional channels of influence and supply.
Chisinau and Kyiv appear to have simultaneously closed the corridors that for decades allowed Transnistria to function as a convenient gray zone for Russian influence, reports the news outlet Reporting From Ukraine, citing its own sources.
According to the outlet, starting at midnight on January 1, Ukraine began strictly screening all people and cargo entering Transnistria. Moldovan authorities also reinforced checkpoints and deployed mobile units to exercise total control over movements. As a result, the region has shifted from a space with blurry rules to one where any movement is recorded and allowed only with the consent of both countries.
The measure is described as aimed not at escalation but at gradually depriving Moscow of leverage over the region. Roughly 1,500 Russian troops stationed there are losing familiar routes for fuel, equipment and everyday supplies. Previously, much of that support moved through informal trade chains and lax customs oversight that skirted Moldovan jurisdiction, but those loopholes are said to be closed.
The “blockade” relies on legal tools. Moldova controls the airspace, ruling out air deliveries, while rail and road traffic is allowed only with strict customs clearance. Kyiv and Chisinau have linked their border systems so that cargo or people can pass only with approval from both sides. In effect, the region has been left without land, air or legal trade channels to the outside world.
For the Kremlin, the situation appears to be a dead end. The region has no sea access and no functioning air routes, making troop rotations and regular resupply effectively impossible without Chisinau’s and Kyiv’s consent. With each month of isolation, Moscow’s ability to shape events is expected to diminish, while Moldova gains more room to align with the European security system.
There have been no official comments from Ukraine or Moldova on the report so far.
