Sakhalin in dark, massive blackout leaves island without power
City blackout (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On the morning of October 27, Sakhalin experienced a widespread power outage. Several settlements were left without electricity, according to Russian media reports.
The blackout affected the central and southern parts of the island, including Dalne, Poronaysk, Makarov, Uglegorsk, Kholmsk, Tomari, and Korsakov.
Residents of the affected areas also reported disruptions to the water supply.
Before the sudden power outage, eyewitnesses reported a bright flash near TPP-1. Local media described it as a light pulse.
Throughout the day, energy workers were engaged in restoring electricity on the island.
Later, local authorities explained the cause of the sudden blackout on Sakhalin: the lightning arrester on the power line between two key substations in the regional center had broken, triggering automatic protection systems and disconnecting the energy network.
Electricity shortage in Russia
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Russia is facing a growing electricity deficit due to high demand. The shortfall has already reached 25 gigawatts.
According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the main causes include a mismatch between rising consumption and infrastructure development.
In particular, the condition of Russia’s thermal power plants is very poor — most have been in operation for over 30 years, and more than 70% of the equipment is worn out. As a result, power lines are overloaded, and failures and breakdowns have become routine.
The most affected regions are Kamchatka and Krasnoyarsk Krais, Magadan and Sakhalin regions, Chukotka, and the North Caucasus — areas not connected to Russia’s unified energy system.
Attacks on Russian thermal power plants
In addition, power outages in Russian cities are sometimes caused by attacks on local thermal power plants.
For example, on October 6, residents of Belgorod reported partial blackouts. Rumors circulated online that the local Luch TPP had been struck.
On the night of October 6, a TPP in the Bryansk region caught fire. According to reports, it was also allegedly attacked.
