Darkness descended on Murmansk
Public outrage is on the rise in the cities of Murmansk and Severomorsk as thousands of people are without electric power three days after several power masts collapsed in bad weather. Full restoration could take more than a week.
There is growing frustration and outright anger on the Kola Peninsula as thousands of people in the region's two biggest cities are left in the dark.
Several power masts collapsed on January 23 following heavy snow and winds. Major parts of the two cities immediately experienced a power blackout.
Three days later, many still live in dark apartments. It is mid-winter and there are freezing temperatures in the far northern region.
Murmansk in the dark. A power outage has left major parts of the 'Russian Arctic capital' without power. Video by VK page Murmansk - Stolitsa Arktiki.
On January 26 Murmansk Governor Andrei Chibis argued that stable power supplies had been returned to about 80 percent of the inhabitants, but the statement was met with disbelief among many locals.
"Why lie? What 80%? Give electricity to Severomorsk!!!!" a woman writes in a comment on the governor's social media page.
"What 80% are we talking about? All buildings on Sverdlova 8, except for building 6, have been without electricity for three days now. The power has not been turned on even for a couple of hours," another woman writes.
According to Governor Chibis, the 'optimistic scenario' for a temporary power restoration schedule is at least 24 hours. Full restoration could take a week, Chibis announced.
But many express distrust in the governor.
"Again, how long is ‘no less than a day’? Two days, five days, a week? You can take responsibility for everything that happens and set clear deadlines, but leave your vague and unclear statements for your superiors," a third woman writes in a comment on Chibis' VK page.
Rosseti is the company that operates the power lines across most of Russia, including on the Kola Peninsula.
According to the company, the collapsed power masts are now being removed and new power masts are on the way.
Many of the masts were built in the 1960s and should have been replaced years ago. According to local news media, the service life of the masts is 40 years, after which regular technical inspections must be made.
The Investigative Committee in Murmansk now says that it will press charges against the companies responsible for the masts.
An investigation team has been established and investigators and forensic experts from the investigation department are working at the scene, and evidence relevant to the criminal case is being collected.
Murmansk Governor Chibis and his regional government have repeatedly held meetings with Rosseti. Reportedly, Rosseti promised to invest 2,5 billion rubles (€27,6 million) in reconstruction and modernisation of existing power lines in the region, as well as in construction of new lines.
In June 2025, a cooperation agreement between the parties was signed.
"This is another step towards reliable energy supply, infrastructure development in the Murmansk region, and the creation of new opportunities for industrial growth in the Arctic," Chibis said in a comment to the new agreement.
