Moldova will declare a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector after Russian strikes in Ukraine knocked out a key electricity line linking the country to Europe, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said Tuesday.
“This is not a measure born of panic but of responsibility,” Munteanu said, adding the decision – approved at an urgent cabinet meeting – will be put to parliament later in the day.
The disruption hit a major transmission line carrying electricity from Romania via southern Ukraine, a critical route for Moldova, which relies heavily on imports.
Authorities said drones had crashed near the line in Ukraine and that demining operations are required before repairs can begin. No timeline for restoration has been given.
Earlier, officials urged residents to conserve electricity during peak hours as supply is rerouted through four alternative interconnections with Romania.
“Overnight strikes disconnected Moldova’s key power link with Europe. Alternative routes are in place, but the situation remains fragile. Russia alone bears responsibility,” President Maia Sandu said.
Moldova’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, warning they “undermine regional energy security and endanger critical civilian infrastructure.”
The affected Isaccea–Vulcanesti line was also disrupted in January, when strikes on Ukraine’s grid triggered outages in both countries.
Parts of Moldova, including the capital, were left without electricity for hours, forcing traffic systems and border crossings to operate manually.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since its full-scale invasion in 2022, causing spillover disruptions across the region. Kyiv has described this winter as one of the most difficult for its power system.