Reuters blackouts are greatly reduced.

Moldova’s pro-European central government has renewed its criticism of Russia, saying it is the cause of the energy crisis and now wants to portray itself as the power that will come to the rescue of the separatist region.

Transdniestria, which broke away from Moldova at the end of Soviet rule, depends on Russian gas sent to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities, locked in a 34-month conflict with Russia, have refused to extend a transit deal until 2025.

Russian gas giant Gazprom ( MCX: ) said it would not send gas to Moldova along alternative routes, citing what it described as Moldovan arrears of $709 million. Moldova, which has criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disputes that figure.

Transdniestria’s pro-Russian leaders, reporting on the region’s official Telegram channel, said the daily rolling blackout would be reduced to three hours on Sunday. The power cuts, which lasted eight hours earlier this week, were cut to five hours on Friday.

“With the current super efficiencies of consumption, Transdniestria will have enough gas until the end of January,” the channel quoted First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Obolonik as saying.

Many factories have switched to night shifts, when the power grid is under less strain, but authorities say one plant, a cement factory in the town of Rybnitsa, has closed.

An iron mill of great importance to the region was also closed in the town.

Russian gas supplied to the separatist region powers a thermal plant that provides electricity for Transdniestria and most of the government-held regions’ needs.

MOLDOVA IS RESPONSIBLE TO RUSSIA

The press secretary of the central government of Moldova, Daniel Voda, said that suggestions that Russia may stop and finally send gas to Transdniestria do not change Moscow’s responsibility for the energy crisis.

“Every time Russia wants to show its strength, it cuts off important resources and takes people hostage,” Voda told media outlet Nokta.

“This is an experiment using people that shows that Moscow is not worried about the comfort and security of residents. … No one deserves to live in fear and in the cold.”

Moldova’s government has accused Russia of artificially creating the energy crisis to damage the country ahead of parliamentary elections this summer. It has offered to help Transdniestria solve power shortages, but leaders in the separatist region have refused to accept any official proposals.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Gazprom could supply gas to Transdniestria via an alternative route, the Turkstream pipeline through Turkey and then Bulgaria and Romania.

Transdniestria fought a brief war against Moldovan government forces in 1992 and still hosts 1,500 Russian soldiers in the small territory that neighbors Ukraine.