Large-scale blackout hits Moldova as border traffic with Ukraine is suspended

This was reported by NewsMaker, according to Ukrinform.

It is noted that power outages were recorded in the capital Chisinau and its suburbs, as well as in three other cities in the country.

The Moldovan government said that the power outage was caused by serious problems in Ukraine's power grid. There was a voltage drop on the 400 kV Isaccea-Vulcanesti-Moldova OPL, which led to an emergency shutdown.

Premier Energy said that work to restore power has begun.

Telecom subscribers are complaining about network outages.

The Moldovan Ministry of Health reports that all medical facilities in the affected areas are connected to generators. Hospitals are operating without interruption, and patients are receiving medical care in safe conditions, the Ministry of Health assures.

According to the Moldovan National Police, traffic lights are not working due to widespread power outages, which complicates traffic and increases the risk of road accidents.

The Customs Service reports temporary power outages at several checkpoints, with customs procedures being carried out manually. Technical problems have also arisen at the central office of the Moldovan Customs Service.

According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, traffic at the border with Moldova is temporarily suspended due to database failure.

"Attention citizens and international carriers planning to cross the border with the Republic of Moldova! We would like to inform you that the Ukrainian-Moldovan border is temporarily closed to vehicles and goods due to a malfunction in the central databases of the customs authorities of the Republic of Moldova," the statement said.

The State Customs Service asks that this information be taken into account when planning to cross the border.

Further information on the resumption of border crossing operations will be provided later.

As reported by Ukrinform, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal said that a technical failure had occurred between the power grids of Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, resulting in a simultaneous power outage.

Currently, special emergency power cut schedules are in effect in Kyiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions.

In the capital, due to the loss of power from external power supply centers, train service and escalators in the metro have been suspended.

The Ministry of Energy said that, according to experts' forecasts, power supply to the regions where emergency blackouts are in effect will be restored within the next 2-3 hours.