Crimea plunged into darkness after electricity towers blown up
State of emergency declared in Russian-controlled territory after power supplies from Ukraine are cut off
Russian authorities have declared a state of emergency in Crimea after several electricity pylons carrying power from Ukraine were blown up at the weekend.
"All of Crimea has been switched off," said Viktor Plakida, head of the electricity company Krymenergo. Roughly 1.6 million people have been left without power in the region, which was annexed last year by Moscow during an armed intervention.
It is unclear who was responsible for the outage, but Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov called it an "act of terrorism" and implied Ukrainian nationalists were to blame, according to Reuters.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ukraine's state energy company Ukrenergo says the nature of the damage shows that it took place as a result of "shelling or the use of explosive devices".
The company would be able to fix one of the four pylons within a day, but only if workers were given "unhindered and safe access" to the sites, Ukraine's energy minister told the Financial Times.
Technicians sent to repair the damage on Friday night said they had encountered anti-Russian activists attempting to block access to the site. But the group – known as the Civil Blockade of Crimea and made up largely of ethnic Crimean Tatars – has denied all responsibility.
The outages are a clear reminder of the peninsula's continued economic reliance on Ukraine. Crimea is only able to produce 30 per cent of its own energy, relying on Kiev to deliver the rest.
"The attacks threaten to complicate still-volatile relations between Moscow and Kiev after 18 months of on-off conflict over territory in the east of Ukraine," warns The Guardian.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 17, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - history repeating, the Pope's white flag, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Derelict homes, Welsh mines, and vinyl
Podcast What can we do about abandoned property? Are old mines still doing us harm? And what do LP sales tell us about the economy?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Dresden: on the trail of a Romantic icon in Germany
the week recommends The Saxon city celebrates the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich this year
By The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's unconventional approach to reconstruction
Under the radar Digitally savvy nation uses popular app to file compensation claims, access funds and rebuild destroyed homes
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What does victory now look like for Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Not losing is as important as winning as the tide turns in Russia's favour again
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Where has the Wagner Group gone?
Today's Big Question Kremlin takes control of Russian mercenaries after aborted mutiny and death of leadership
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Will Ukraine's leadership reset work?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy hints at ousting of popular military chief, but risks backlash amid dwindling munitions, delayed funding and Russian bombardment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years: how powerful is Pakistan's military?
Today's Big Question The country's armed forces ignore country's economic woes, control its institutions and, critics say, engineer election results
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Iran's endgame?
Today's Big Question Tehran seeks to supplant US and Saudi Arabia as dominant power in Middle East while forcing Israel to end Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostages
Speed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 years
Speed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published