Kyiv: Ukraine and Moldova on Saturday announced mass power outages, including in their respective capitals, as Ukraine battles a state of emergency in its energy sector amid severe winter weather. Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said in a statement on Telegram that a 'technological disruption' occurred in the country's power system, resulting in the shutdown of the 750 kV power line between Ukraine's western and central regions and the 400 kV line between the power systems of Romania and Moldova.
According to Anadolu Agency, the failure occurred at 10:42 am local time (0842GMT), causing a 'cascade of disconnections' in Ukraine's power grid and the activation of 'automatic protections' at substations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that all necessary response measures are in place, with restoration work ongoing to stabilize the situation promptly.
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry reported that emergency power outages have been implemented in multiple regions, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, as instructed by the power grid operator, Ukrenergo. Emergency shutdowns are also in effect in the Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr regions. The ministry anticipated power restoration within two to three hours and noted that efforts to restore supplies to critical infrastructure are underway.
Ukrainian private energy provider DTEK confirmed emergency power outages in the Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions following Ukrenergo's instructions. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the city's metro has halted operations due to low voltage, with underground stations available as shelters. Power supply to critical infrastructure in Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk regions has since been restored.
In Moldova, the Energy Ministry announced a voltage drop on the 400 kV Isaccea-Vulcanesti-MGRES line, citing 'serious problems in the Ukrainian power grid' as the cause. Power transmission operator Moldelectrica is working to resolve the issue, with voltage already restored in some areas. Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban confirmed widespread power outages in the Moldovan capital, and Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu urged citizens to remain united and trust in the institutions' efforts to resolve the problem.
The outages coincide with Ukraine's state of emergency in the energy sector due to extreme weather and Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center forecasted drastic temperature drops across several regions, exacerbating the challenges faced by the energy sector.