A winter storm ravaged Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea coast, resulting in at least 13 deaths and numerous injuries in Ukraine, Moldova, and Russia. The storm toppled trees and knocked down power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported five deaths and 19 injuries in Odesa and urged communities to take measures to prevent further casualties from hazardous weather conditions.
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry stated that 882 settlements in 12 regions were without power due to strong winds and snowfall. The Odesa region was the hardest hit, with 313 settlements and around 110,000 consumers affected by power outages. Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported the towing of 1,233 vehicles and the removal of 164 trees by the evening of November 27.
Moldova, Bulgaria, and Romania also felt the impact of the storm, which reached as far north as Moscow. Moldova experienced nine road accidents resulting in two deaths and 14 injuries. Meanwhile, over 1.9 million people were affected by power cuts in southern Russia and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry noted injuries in the Krasnodar region and reported a cargo ship running aground near Anapa. Numerous deaths were recorded, with casualties in the Krasnodar region, Russian-occupied Crimea, and Novorossiisk.
The storm caused severe disruption in Crimea, resulting in evacuations, hospitalizations, and widespread power outages. Additionally, the Aquarium Museum in Sevastopol tragically lost all of its 800 animals due to the storm’s impact.
In Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria, heavy snowfall and blizzards led to power and water outages, as well as significant disruptions in road and railway traffic. In Bulgaria, a state of emergency was declared in several areas, with around 1,000 settlements left without electricity.
Overall, the winter storm had devastating effects across the region, leading to loss of life, injuries, and widespread power outages, as nations worked to recover from the storm’s impact.