Murmansk, Severomorsk in darkness as northern Russia hit by massive blackout

The northern Russian cities of Murmansk and Severomorsk were plunged into darkness following a major power outage. The blackout left numerous homes without electricity, while water and heating services were disrupted in several areas.

According to the state energy company Rosseti, five power lines on the Kola Peninsula collapsed by the morning of January 24. Initial reports on the evening of January 23 had cited the failure of a single support. Replacement lines are being transported from Karelia and Leningrad Oblast to restore full service, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Authorities have declared a state of high alert in the region. In some districts of Murmansk, power was deliberately cut to conserve energy and redirect it to critical facilities.

“For the redistribution of electricity to more significant consumers, such as heat and water supply organizations and medical institutions, we temporarily switched off outdoor lighting on city streets and in residential areas. Please be careful!” said Murmansk Mayor Ivan Lebedev.

Vladimir Yevmenkov, head of the closed administrative-territorial formation Severomorsk, said that ships in the naval city have been switched to autonomous power supply.

“Substation 345 has been fully restored. Heat supply in the ‘Verkhnyaya Vaenga’ zone is operating normally. Electricity to the boiler in Safonovo-1 has been restored, and three boilers are operational. Residential buildings will be gradually reconnected soon. The pumping station on Kortik Street is connected to the main line. The central district hospital has been switched from diesel generators to the main line,” Yevmenkov said.

Murmansk Oblast Governor Andrey Chibis confirmed that all boiler houses have been reconnected, and that heat, water, and healthcare services will gradually return to normal.

Restoration work is complicated by severe weather. Alexander Kizenkov, head of the overhead lines service, noted that heavy snowfall at the collapse sites, combined with wet snow and strong winds, is expected to persist until January 26.

Following the blackout, authorities opened a criminal investigation under Part 1 of Article 293 of the Russian Criminal Code (negligence), with preliminary findings suggesting the outage could have been prevented. “Preliminary data indicate that on January 23, due to the failure of officials of the network organization to properly maintain power lines and respond promptly to emergency outages, a critical voltage drop and mass power outage occurred, including at critical infrastructure facilities,” the Investigative Committee of Murmansk Oblast said.

Residents have faced harsh conditions, as indoor temperatures dropped from -5°C to -10°C overnight. Many have resorted to gas heaters despite safety warnings. Some were trapped in elevators, requiring hours-long rescue operations, while public transport, including trolleybuses, halted due to power loss. With streets and courtyards dark, residents have relied on flashlights to navigate their neighborhoods.

By Vafa Guliyeva