24.03.2026 22:40
Europe's poorest country, Moldova, is facing a serious energy crisis due to the impact of attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. A state of emergency has been declared for 60 days due to the direct impact on the country's energy supply, while officials have warned of the risk of power outages due to the fragile nature of the system.
Moldova declared a state of emergency in the energy sector due to the impact of Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure spilling over into the country. Officials stated that the decision was directly related to the vulnerabilities arising in the regional energy system.
ATTACKS HAVE ALSO HIT MOLDOVA
Moldovan officials indicated that the attacks on energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine have also affected the lines providing electricity to the country. The damage to the lines, which play a critical role in Moldova's energy supply, seriously threatens supply security.
RISK OF POWER OUTAGES
Officials noted that the energy system is operating at border capacity, expressing that planned power outages may be on the agenda. It was emphasized that imbalances that may occur in the grid carry the risk of a cascading collapse.
SANDU: THIS IS A WAR CRIME
Moldovan President Maia Sandu reacted strongly to the attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Sandu stated, "Russia's attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure are a war crime and an attack on all of us."
Addressing the effects of the attacks on Moldova, Sandu announced that the country's critical energy connection with Europe was cut off due to the attacks carried out at night. Sandu, who noted that alternative lines have been activated, emphasized that the system is still fragile.
Speaking about the disruptions, Sandu expressed that the responsibility for the energy crisis lies entirely with Russia.
REGIONAL CRISIS RISK IS AT THE DOOR
Russia's attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine are affecting not only Ukraine but also neighboring countries. Moldova's energy infrastructure being largely dependent on external sources makes the country more vulnerable to such crises.
According to a statement from Moldova's energy operator Moldelectrica, the main transmission line Isakça-Vulkaneşti, which connects Moldova to the European energy system, has stopped due to bombings targeting southern Ukraine. The Moldova National Crisis Management Center confirmed that the deactivation of this line poses a high risk not only to national but also to regional stability. This situation, which arose as a direct result of attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, necessitated Moldova's efforts to meet its energy needs through alternative routes.
EUROPE'S POOREST COUNTRY
According to 2023 data, Moldova is the poorest country in Europe in terms of official GDP per capita, with a large portion of its GDP belonging to the service sector. It has one of the lowest Human Development Indexes in Europe and ranks 86th in the world.