The power failure unfolded against a backdrop of missile strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy network, with reports of systemic disruptions rippling into Moldova and the region of Transnistria, according to TSV Pridnostrovia TV.
Officials described a sweeping outage affecting homes, businesses, and utilities across the republic. Traffic signals failed, streetlights went dark, and internet access dropped in several areas. In some districts, water service was interrupted as well.
The situation began to ease later in the day, with electricity gradually restored and mobile connectivity returning in cities like Tiraspol and Bendery around 16:30 local time. Officials from Dnestrenergo indicated that power could be back across Transnistria within the next hour and a half to two hours, provided there were no new problems.
Earlier, Dnestrenergo attributed the outages to a shutdown at Moldova’s GRES facility, which subsequently restarted, helping stabilize the grid. (TSV Pridnostrovia TV)
Valentina Trubchanina, managing director of MGRES, linked the interruption to the integrated energy network that spans Ukraine, Transnistria, and Moldova.
She explained that a line running from Romania into Moldova and onward to the region had been cut, collapsing the broader power system. The abrupt frequency drop in the electrical grid triggered automatic load shedding, creating tension in the system. Nevertheless, operators expected normal conditions to resume within a short period. (MGRES statement)
“Russia has left Moldova in the dark”
The Moldovan situation mirrored the broader regional impacts. Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu reported significant outages across the country, noting that damage to Ukrainian infrastructure contributed to the loss of power. Moldformac electrification teams were actively working to restore connections, he said via official channels. (Spinu Telegram post)
Spinu recalled a similar disruption on November 15, when electricity failures occurred after a power line automatically shut down in response to an attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities. (Spinu notes)
Moldovan President Maia Sandu weighed in on the crisis, arguing that the outages were connected to actions from a hostile regime. She urged vigilance and resilience, telling citizens that the light can be restored and that government agencies were mobilized to fix the issues. (Sandu statement)
Premier Energy Distribution, a Moldovan distribution company, confirmed an emergency shutdown affecting the national grid. The company stated that on the cited date at 14:23 local time there was an emergency shutdown, while transport and distribution operators worked to restore power and asked for public understanding due to factors outside the operator’s control. (Premier Energy Distribution notice)
Efforts to restore electricity continued across Moldova as crews worked to reconnect networks. In parallel, a formal note from the Russian ambassador to Moldova was requested as part of standard diplomatic channels, following the weekend’s disturbances to energy infrastructure. (Moldovan authorities)
The broader message from authorities underscored that disruptions in Moldova were tied to the larger episode affecting Ukraine’s energy system and the shared cross-border grid. Officials emphasized that restoration plans remained a priority and that the public should anticipate a return to normal service in the coming hours. The emphasis was on coordinated repair work across distribution networks and the rapid reestablishment of critical services in the capital and other major towns. (Moldovan government updates)