Ukraine’s power system is teetering on the edge: for the first time since the war began, subways in Kyiv and Kharkiv halted due to electricity disruptions. French outlet Le Monde calls it “a sign of an energy catastrophe” triggered by Russia’s large-scale strikes on critical infrastructure.
According to Le Monde, today’s power supply problems have paralyzed transport and everyday services and are a stark signal that the country’s grid is close to failing.
“This is the first time since the war began almost four years ago and is another sign that Ukraine’s energy system is on the brink of collapse due to Russian strikes,” the report says.
The outlet writes that recent waves of missile and drone attacks have damaged power plants and transformers, forcing the Kyiv and Kharkiv metro systems to suspend service temporarily.
People line up for the subway in Kyiv on January 31. Photo: Reuters.
Citing Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, Le Monde reports that trains cannot run because of low voltage on the grid, and metro stations are serving as shelters. The Kharkiv Metro also confirmed on Telegram that train service on all lines has been suspended due to technical issues.
On January 31, amid freezing temperatures and rolling outages, a humanitarian aid center opened at a Kyiv school, offering a place to warm up, hot meals, device charging and psychological support.
Le Monde also reports that, according to Ukraine’s Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, key transmission lines connecting the country to Moldova and Romania went down simultaneously. A 400-kilovolt line linking Ukraine with its neighbors and a 750-kilovolt line connecting western and central Ukraine were taken out of service due to a technical failure.
Moldova was partially affected. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said the problem is expected to be resolved within hours.
“He said it happened due to ‘the loss of power lines in Ukraine.’ This led to ‘a frequency drop to 48 hertz in Moldova’s national power system; the grid’s automatic protection system was triggered,’ causing shutdowns,” the publication notes.
The report adds that Moldova generates its own electricity and also imports power, primarily from Romania but also from Ukraine.
Earlier on January 31, Ukraine introduced emergency power cuts in several regions simultaneously; in Kyiv, low voltage caused water supply disruptions and even a temporary metro shutdown.
According to the authorities, stabilizing the system and restarting power units will take 24 to 36 hours, making promises of a quick restoration premature.
