'Russia is the only one responsible': Moldova imposes 60-day energy emergency after Russian strikes in Ukraine

Moldova's Parliament decisively approved a 60-day state of emergency for the country's energy sector following Russian strikes on Ukraine's power infrastructure that severed a critical transmission line connecting Moldova to Romania.

The overnight attacks resulted in the disconnection of the high-voltage Isaccea-Vulcanesti power line, a vital link between southern Moldova and EU member Romania. In response, Moldovan authorities immediately advised citizens to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours while repair operations commenced.

The emergency measure received overwhelming parliamentary support, with 72 lawmakers in the 101-seat legislature voting in favor. No members opposed the resolution, while 18 abstained from voting.

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu addressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that these developments were not coincidental. "Russia's attacks on the civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine represent a war crime, but also an attack on us, here in the Republic of Moldova," Munteanu declared. "Russia is the only one responsible for this."

The emergency powers, effective Wednesday, will enable authorities to respond more efficiently by mobilizing additional resources, securing critical infrastructure, and implementing necessary measures to mitigate crisis effects. Munteanu stressed that the declaration represents "a measure of responsibility" rather than panic, ensuring the government remains prepared to protect every citizen.

Moldova's energy infrastructure remains interconnected with Ukraine's Soviet-era systems, making the country vulnerable to periodic outages since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu estimates repairs to the damaged power line will require five to seven days to complete.

The broader impact of the conflict has significantly affected Moldova, an EU candidate country and former Soviet republic. Russia's systematic targeting of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, including dams and river ports, has created cascading effects across the border.

Recent weeks have seen mounting challenges for Moldovan citizens. Tens of thousands lost access to clean water following a Russian strike on a Ukrainian hydroelectric plant that caused oil contamination in a major river system. The facility, located approximately 15 kilometers upstream from Moldova's northern border, supplies water to roughly 80% of the country's 2.5 million residents.

January brought additional hardships when major power outages, including in the capital Chisinau, occurred after disruption to a Ukrainian power line caused significant voltage drops across Moldova's grid.

President Maia Sandu directly attributed these incidents to deliberate Russian actions, stating that "Russia continues to deliberately undermine the security of the Republic of Moldova and endanger the lives of our citizens."

In a Facebook statement, Sandu highlighted the strategic importance of the affected infrastructure: "After the bombing of the Ukrainian hydroelectric power plant... tonight, a new brutal attack led to the disconnection of the Isaccea-Vulcanesti line, which in certain periods provides 60-70% of our electricity consumption."

The President emphasized that these incidents represent calculated efforts rather than collateral damage. "All these are not accidents, but deliberate actions of Russia to weaken and leave Moldova in the dark," she stated.

Despite mounting evidence of cross-border impacts, Russia has consistently denied any intention to destabilize Moldova's government or infrastructure systems.