KYIV / CHIȘINĂU — Ukraine and neighboring Moldova experienced widespread power outages on Saturday, January 31, 2026, including in their capital cities, after a major technological disruption in Ukraine’s electricity grid triggered a cascade of disconnections and affected cross-border power flows.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported via Telegram that a “technological disruption” occurred at 10:42 a.m. local time (08:42 GMT), causing the shutdown of the critical 750 kV power line linking the country’s western and central regions, as well as the 400 kV interconnection between Ukraine and Romania/Moldova. The failure activated automatic protection systems at multiple substations, leading to emergency load shedding across several regions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after receiving briefings from Minister Shmyhal and Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, stated on X: “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.”
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced that emergency power outages were implemented in multiple regions, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, on the instructions of national grid operator Ukrenergo. Ukrenergo separately confirmed emergency shutdowns in Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr oblasts. Private energy company DTEK also applied emergency restrictions in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions following Ukrenergo directives.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the capital’s metro system had suspended operations due to low voltage in the network. He noted that underground metro stations remained open and could serve as shelters if needed. Later updates from Minister Shmyhal confirmed that power supply to critical infrastructure in Kyiv, as well as in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, had been restored, with efforts continuing to reconnect all consumers.
In Moldova, the Ministry of Energy reported a voltage drop on the 400 kV Isaccea-Vulcănești-MGRES line — the main interconnection with Ukraine — causing a disconnection of the national power system. The ministry attributed the incident to “serious problems in the Ukrainian power grid” and stated that transmission system operator Moldelectrica was working to restore supply. Power was gradually reconnected in southern regions via 110 kV lines, with efforts underway to stabilize the rest of the country, including the capital Chișinău.
Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban confirmed outages across most of the city, while Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu urged citizens to remain calm and supportive, assuring them that “institutions are working to quickly resolve the problem.”
The outages occurred against the backdrop of a declared state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector earlier in January, driven by a combination of extreme winter weather and the cumulative impact of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure since 2022. The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center warned that temperatures in northern and central regions — including Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, and Kharkiv — could plummet to minus 30°C (minus 22°F) between February 1–3, with most other areas (except the south and Zakarpattia) expected to see minus 20°C to minus 27°C (minus 4°F to minus 16°F).
Ukrainian officials have stressed that grid operators are prioritizing the reconnection of critical infrastructure — hospitals, water supply systems, heating plants, and emergency services — while working to stabilize the system and minimize the duration of outages for households.
The incident highlights the continued vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing war damage, winter demand surges, and regional interdependencies. Moldova, which historically relies heavily on electricity imports from Ukraine, was directly affected by the disruption.
Both governments have appealed for calm and assured citizens that restoration efforts are progressing. No injuries or major secondary incidents were reported as of Saturday evening.
