Widespread Power Outages Hit Ukraine and Moldova, Disrupting Major Cities
Significant power disruptions affected large areas of Ukraine and neighboring Moldova over the weekend, causing major disturbances in daily activities and essential services across both countries. The outages stemmed from simultaneous failures in two high-voltage transmission lines, which authorities have attributed to technical faults rather than any direct link to ongoing military conflict.
Major urban centers, including the capitals Kyiv and Chisinau, experienced substantial interruptions. In Kyiv, public transportation was brought to a halt as the subway system was forced to stop operating, and residents faced issues with water supply. Meanwhile, in Chisinau, traffic signals and segments of the public transport network, including trolleybuses, were non-operational, leading to widespread disruption in daily commutes and city services.
Ukraine's Minister of Energy explained that the incident was the result of concurrent outages on key transmission routes--one connecting the Romanian and Moldovan power grids, and another serving central and western regions of Ukraine. The Ukrainian transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, reported that emergency power cuts were instituted in Kyiv and surrounding regions, as well as in other affected areas such as Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv. Network operators stated that the energy system was experiencing a significant shortfall in capacity and emphasized that restoring power to critical infrastructure was a top priority. Repairs and emergency measures to restore electricity were implemented swiftly, with authorities expecting to return to normal conditions by the end of the day.
Moldovan officials noted that the outage was triggered by a voltage drop on a principal transmission line around 11:00 local time, which disrupted the country's national grid. This event was linked to severe complications in Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Border crossings between Moldova and Ukraine were also impacted, with customs authorities reporting temporary closures due to central database outages, affecting the movement of goods and vehicles.
Residents in Kyiv shared that many individuals were stranded underground for extended periods as the subway system was immobilized. Emergency responders organized an efficient evacuation, ensuring the safety of all passengers. However, communication was hampered due to limited mobile connectivity. Local businesses, such as cafés, relied on backup generators to maintain partial operations, though extreme cold presented additional challenges in keeping these systems functional.
In addition to urban disruptions, the incident triggered automated safety protocols at electrical substations, leading to the temporary shutdown of several reactor units. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant lost external electrical supply for a period before restoration. Emergency shelters and support stations were established in Kyiv to assist affected residents.
Ukrainian digital authorities dismissed speculation regarding a possible cyberattack, reaffirming that the outages were not caused by malicious digital interference. The country's energy infrastructure has previously endured sustained pressure from repeated attacks, compounded by increased demand during the cold winter months. Despite the current challenges, there is a provisional ceasefire regarding strikes on energy facilities, following assurances from both Ukraine and Russia to refrain from targeting such infrastructure during this period.
The response from authorities on both sides of the border focused on the rapid restoration of services and the prioritization of vital systems, including hospitals, transportation, and water supply. Efforts to stabilize the power grid are ongoing, with officials urging the public to remain vigilant and patient while full functionality is gradually reinstated.