Blackouts Affect Ukraine, Moldova

(MENAFN) Ukraine and Moldova declared extensive electricity cuts on Saturday, affecting numerous areas including their capitals, as Ukraine grapples with an emergency in its energy network during harsh winter conditions.

Ukraine’s Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal explained via a Telegram message that a “technological disruption” struck the national electricity system.

The incident led to the shutdown of the 750 kV transmission line linking the country’s western and central zones, along with the 400 kV interconnection between the power grids of Romania and Moldova.

Shmyhal noted that the malfunction occurred at 10:42 am local time (0842GMT), triggering a “cascade of disconnections” across Ukraine’s electricity network and prompting the engagement of “automatic protections” at various substations.

Following briefings from Shmyhal and Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on US social media company X that “All necessary response measures at the level of Ukraine’s energy system are in place, and restoration work is ongoing. The task now is to stabilize the situation as soon as possible.”

Earlier, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry reported that emergency electricity cuts were enforced in several regions, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, under directives from the national grid operator, Ukrenergo. The operator separately confirmed that similar emergency shutdowns were also implemented in the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions.

“According to experts' forecasts, power supply will be restored within the next two to three hours,” the ministry added. It later emphasized that the national power network is steadily rebounding and that restoration efforts continue, with priority given to reestablishing electricity for critical infrastructure facilities.

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