Russian officials declared a state of emergency in the northern Murmansk region on Sunday, January 25, 2026, following a significant electricity grid failure caused by extreme weather conditions that led to the collapse of multiple power line pylons. The outage has left thousands of households without power, disrupted heating systems in some areas, and prompted urgent restoration efforts amid sub-zero Arctic temperatures.
Murmansk region Governor Andrey Chibis announced the emergency measure in a Telegram post after chairing a meeting of the regional emergency commission. "Due to the protracted nature of the accident, we are introducing a state of emergency on the territory of the Murmansk region," he stated. Chibis emphasized that all emergency services remain in constant coordination to address the crisis, with specialists working around the clock to repair the damaged infrastructure.
The incident began on Friday, January 23, when severe weather intensified across the region. Wet snow combined with strong squally winds caused heavy ice accretion and frost buildup on overhead power lines, overwhelming the structures. As a result, five power line pylons on four separate lines collapsed approximately 7 kilometers (about 4 miles) from the city of Murmansk, in the direction of Severomorsk-3. The failures knocked out electricity to large parts of Murmansk city, the closed military town of Severomorsk (home to Russia's Northern Fleet headquarters), and surrounding settlements.
Severomorsk, a strategically vital closed administrative-territorial formation (ZATO) hosting surface ships, submarines, and key naval facilities of the Northern Fleet, was particularly affected. The town switched to emergency diesel generators to maintain essential services, including partial heating and critical infrastructure. In Murmansk, the regional capital with a population of over 280,000, widespread blackouts disrupted daily life, affecting residential buildings, businesses, and public facilities.
Governor Chibis explained that restoration has proven challenging due to ongoing unfavorable weather, difficult Arctic terrain, steep inclines, and the scale of the damage. New support structures are being delivered from neighboring regions to replace the fallen pylons, some of which dated back to the 1960s. Restoration is expected to take at least 24 hours or longer, depending on conditions.
To support affected residents, authorities established temporary accommodation points in Murmansk city. The head of the regional center, Ivan Lebedev, reported via Telegram that these sites are distributing essential supplies, including food, water, warm clothing, and charging stations for mobile devices. Heat supply was restored to most areas of Murmansk and Severomorsk by Sunday, with boiler houses operating normally to provide central heating despite the power disruptions. Water supply and healthcare services have also been maintained through backup systems.
The crisis has drawn scrutiny to the condition of Russia's aging power infrastructure, particularly in remote northern regions prone to extreme weather. Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under charges of negligence (Article 293 of the Criminal Code). Investigators determined that at least two of the collapsed pylons were nearly 60 years old and had exceeded their designed service life, requiring replacement years ago. No signs of external interference or sabotage were found; the destruction was attributed solely to natural forces overwhelming outdated infrastructure.
The North-West branch of Rosseti (Russia's state-owned grid operator) confirmed that crews are conducting round-the-clock repairs. Additional equipment and materials from private companies are being mobilized under the emergency regime, which facilitates faster resource allocation without altering daily life for most residents.
The Murmansk region, located above the Arctic Circle, experiences harsh winters with frequent storms, heavy snowfall, and temperatures often dropping below -20°C (-4°F). Ice loading on power lines is a recurring hazard in such climates, but the scale of this incident—multiple simultaneous collapses—has highlighted vulnerabilities in the grid. Similar events have occurred in recent years across Russia's northern territories, where Soviet-era infrastructure struggles to withstand intensifying climate variability, including more frequent wet snow events that increase ice weight.
The outage's impact on Severomorsk raises particular concerns given its military significance. The Northern Fleet, one of Russia's most powerful naval formations, operates nuclear-powered submarines and supports strategic deterrence missions. While emergency generators ensured continuity for critical naval operations, the blackout underscored dependencies on civilian power networks in strategic areas.
Residents reported on social media and local forums about challenges in sub-zero conditions without electricity, including difficulties charging phones, preserving food, and staying warm in apartments reliant on electric heating supplements. Authorities urged conservation of backup power and cautioned against using unsafe heating alternatives like open flames indoors.
This event occurs against a broader backdrop of energy challenges in Russia, where grid modernization has lagged in some regions despite investments in oil and gas exports. Rosseti has ongoing programs to replace aging lines and install weather-resistant equipment, but vast distances, low population density in the north, and high costs complicate efforts.
Governor Chibis assured residents that the emergency declaration is a procedural step to expedite recovery, not a sign of worsening conditions. He thanked emergency workers, utility crews, and volunteers for their efforts. As restoration progresses, focus will shift to preventing future incidents through accelerated infrastructure upgrades.
The Murmansk blackout serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by Arctic communities in an era of extreme weather. With climate models predicting more intense precipitation events in polar regions, Russian authorities face mounting pressure to bolster resilience in critical infrastructure. For now, the priority remains restoring reliable power to all affected households and ensuring no long-term disruptions to daily life or strategic operations in this vital northern frontier.
