Emergency power cuts affected multiple Ukrainian cities and Moldova on Saturday due to a technical issue with power lines connecting the two countries, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed. The malfunction caused a widespread outage in Ukraine, leading to blackouts in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions. The power failure disrupted water supplies in Kyiv and temporarily halted the city’s subway system due to low voltage.
Moldova also faced significant power disruptions, including in its capital, Chisinau, as a result of the power line failures in Ukraine triggering an automatic shutdown of electricity supply. Moldova’s energy minister, Dorin Junghietu, urged the public to remain calm until power was restored.
These power outages come after a series of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, exacerbating existing power shortages. Russia’s deliberate targeting of Ukraine’s utilities during winter has intensified the suffering of civilians, with temperatures dropping to extreme lows. Ukraine is bracing for a frigid period with temperatures set to plummet to -30°C in some areas.
President Donald Trump revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to temporarily halt strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in response to the severe weather conditions. Talks involving U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials are scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi next week to address the ongoing crisis.
Despite the pause in strikes on energy assets, Zelenskyy reported continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian logistics networks and residential areas. While Trump viewed Putin’s concession as a positive step, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia’s willingness to end the conflict as the fourth anniversary of the invasion approaches.
In Kyiv, where residents remain without adequate heating and essential services, many question the prospects for a lasting peace settlement. Amid the hardship, individuals like Serhii Kupov and Albina Sokur, who have endured weeks without heating, harbor doubts about the feasibility of negotiations with Russia. Sokur, reflecting on the situation, holds out hope for a peaceful resolution but remains uncertain about the eventual return to normalcy in the region.