Bordered by Moldova and Ukraine, Transnistria is a frozen-in-time region grappling with growing isolation. As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, its youth face an uncertain future in a land that is politically unrecognized and economically dependent on Russia. Soviet nostalgia lingers, but daily life is increasingly difficult.

An energy crisis, caused by a halt in Russian gas transit, has left homes cold and pushed illegal logging as people seek firewood. In rural areas, crumbling infrastructure adds to the hardship.

Many young people hope to leave, but options are limited. They grow up navigating identity, propaganda, and the constant threat of conflict. Stuck between a fading past and an unclear future, they search for a way forward.