Moldova hit by widespread power cuts amid Ukraine grid problems

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Disruptions in neighbouring Ukraine’s grid led to a voltage drop on one of the power lines into Moldova (above).

Disruptions in neighbouring Ukraine’s grid led to a voltage drop on one of the power lines into Moldova (above).

PHOTO: AFP

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CHISINAU, Moldova – Moldova’s energy system was hit by an emergency outage on Jan 31 due to problems in neighbouring Ukraine’s grid, officials said, with the capital Chisinau and other parts of the country experiencing power cuts.

According to a Moldovan energy ministry statement on the messaging platform Telegram,

disruptions in Ukraine’s grid

led to a voltage drop on one of the power lines into Moldova.

Most districts in Moldova’s Chisinau were without electricity supplies, the city mayor Ion Ceban said on Telegram, with officials adding that even traffic lights were not working.

Ukrainian energy officials have yet to comment on the situation. Emergency power cuts have also been introduced in some parts of Ukraine, power company DTEK said, and the metro in Kyiv has stopped operating.

The grid emergency has also led to a temporary halt to Kyiv’s water supply, officials said.

Ukraine’s power grid has been one of the main targets of months of Russian strikes, and there have been significant restrictions to power supplies for consumers there for weeks. REUTERS

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