A state of emergency was declared in Russia’s Murmansk Oblast on 25 January 2026 after a severe Arctic storm damaged aging electricity transmission towers, causing widespread power outages affecting thousands of residents .
Governor Andrei Chibis announced the measure on his Telegram channel, citing the “protracted nature of the accident” . The failure occurred after heavy snow and high winds caused ice to accumulate on power lines, leading to the collapse of five pylons across four lines .
The incident prompted a criminal investigation by Russia’s Investigative Committee into potential negligence. Authorities reported that at least two of the collapsed pylons had been in operation since 1966, exceeding their 40-year service life . Repair crews from the state-owned utility Rosseti worked in extreme weather conditions and difficult terrain to restore power, with Governor Chibis stating the emergency declaration would allow for faster mobilization of equipment and resources from private companies .
References:
3. The Moscow Times. “Murmansk Region Issues Emergency Declaration as Arctic Storm Knocks Out Power.” themoscowtimes.com, 26 Jan. 2026, https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/01/26/murmansk-region-issues-emergency-declaration-as-arctic-storm-knocks-out-power-a91778.
