“Following Russia’s bombing of the Ukrainian energy system in the last hour, one of the power lines that ensures the transmission of electricity for our country has been disconnected,” Infrastructure Minister Andrey Spinou said in a statement. “This has led to massive blackouts across the country.” Spinu noted that the downed power lines “were not damaged, but were automatically disconnected as a safety measure,” and later confirmed shortly after 6:30 p.m. local time (1630 GMT) that power had been restored to most areas. “Russian aggression against Ukraine directly affects our country,” Spinou wrote on Facebook. “Risks of power outages remain high. Any bombing by Russia against Ukrainian power plants could lead to a repeat of the current situation.” The blackouts that hit Moldova, which is not a member of the European Union or NATO, occurred at 4:37 p.m. local time (1437 GMT) and affected “a large number of consumers,” according to Moldova’s Premier Energy Distribution. . Local media reported that more than half a dozen cities were affected. Moldova’s pro-Western president, Maya Sandu, condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine that ultimately left “dozens of locations” in her country without power. “They hit the civil and energy infrastructure of the neighboring country, endangering the lives and safety of tens of thousands of people,” Sandu wrote on Facebook. “The Russian attacks in Ukraine also caused the automatic disconnection of a line that provides electricity transmission to our country and dozens of locations were left without light,” he said, adding that “special services are working to resolve the situation.” Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Facebook that the large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could affect the energy systems of its neighboring countries. He noted that Tuesday’s barrage on Ukraine’s energy facilities was “the most massive” since the war began. The shutdown has hit Moldova, a former Soviet republic sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, as it grapples with a severe winter energy crisis, soaring inflation and a series of anti-government protests. Russia, on which it relies entirely for natural gas, recently halved its supply to Moldova. Last week, the EU pledged 250 million euros (nearly $260 million) to help Moldova — which was granted EU candidate status in June along with Ukraine — tackle its energy crisis and support its most vulnerable people .
Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.
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