On New Year’s Day, Russian gas stopped flowing through Ukraine.
Kyiv is calling it a “historic” day as its refusal to extend a transit agreement with Russia’s Gazprom has halted the return flow of cash to fund the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
But in neighbouring Moldova, the move threatens to cause a crisis.
In Transnistria, a separatist region of eastern Moldova loyal to Moscow, the year began with only hospitals and critical infrastructure being heated, not houses.
“The hot water was on until about 2am, I checked. Now it’s off and the radiators are barely warm,” Dmitry told the BBC by phone from his flat in the enclave.
“We still have gas, but the pressure is very low – just what’s left in the pipes.”