The government of the Republic of Moldova declared a 60-day state of emergency in the energy sector on March 24, following the disconnection of the Vulcănești–Isaccea power line linking the country to Romania after Russian drone attacks in southern Ukraine, a government statement said.

The high-voltage 400 kV line, which crosses Ukrainian territory, is Moldova’s main electricity import route within the European ENTSO-E system and typically supplies 60–70% of consumption on the right bank of the country, the area controlled by constitutional authorities (with the left bank being the separatist Transnistria region).

The authorities' decision signals that repairs will not be immediate. The restoration requires demining operations in Ukraine before technical teams can safely access the damaged infrastructure, they explained.

“Currently, flows in this direction are at 0 MW, which generates an estimated deficit of up to 350-400 MW during peak hours starting tomorrow,” said Serghei Diaconu, head of the National Crisis Management Centre (CNMC), Moldpres reported.

Moldova is temporarily relying on lower-capacity 110 kV interconnections with Romania operating in “islanded” mode, as well as the reconnection of the 330 kV Bălți-Dnistrovsk line with Ukraine. However, these alternatives can only cover part of the national demand, complicate grid operations and are prone to overloading.

Imports from Ukraine remain uncertain due to ongoing Russian attacks, while electricity generation in the separatist Transnistria region (MoldGRES plant) is constrained by limited gas supplies. Transnistria has also recently reintroduced its own state of emergency (which has run almost permanently since January 2025), relying on monthly gas arrangements involving Russian-linked intermediaries.

The state of emergency allows Moldovan authorities to implement fast-track procurement procedures, allocate additional funds for energy purchases and equipment, and, if necessary, impose consumption restrictions and special operating rules for businesses to safeguard critical infrastructure and public services.

According to Diaconu, repair efforts are delayed by the presence of drone debris near the affected infrastructure in Ukraine, requiring clearance operations before full technical intervention can begin.