This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34899491

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Crimea hit by power blackout and Ukraine trade boycott Crimea hit by power blackout and Ukraine trade boycott
(about 5 hours later)
Ukraine has suspended trade with Crimea, where a power blackout has caused major disruption. Ukraine has suspended deliveries of goods to Crimea, where a power blackout has caused major disruption.
Only essential services and government offices are operating in Crimea after key electricity pylons connected to the peninsula were knocked down in Ukraine.Only essential services and government offices are operating in Crimea after key electricity pylons connected to the peninsula were knocked down in Ukraine.
Protesters - including Crimean Tatars - are preventing repairs to the pylons. Protesters, including Crimean Tatars, are preventing the repair work. Russia has warned of retaliatory measures.
The Ukrainian government says new rules for cargo traffic need to be worked out for Crimea, which was annexed by Russian forces in March 2014. Ukraine is planning new rules for cargo traffic for the southern peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
There has been disruption to road and rail traffic to and from Crimea since Ukrainian nationalists and Crimean Tatars began a border blockade in September.There has been disruption to road and rail traffic to and from Crimea since Ukrainian nationalists and Crimean Tatars began a border blockade in September.
A Tatar leader, Mustafa Dzhemilev, said the protesters would only let engineers repair two pylons that serve areas of mainland Ukraine - not the two linked to the peninsula, which is controlled by a pro-Moscow government. Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev said the protesters would only let engineers repair two pylons that serve areas of mainland Ukraine - not the two linked to Crimea.
Russia does not have a land border with Crimea, which gets about 70% of its electricity from Ukraine.Russia does not have a land border with Crimea, which gets about 70% of its electricity from Ukraine.
Economic impactEconomic impact
Most of Crimea's two million people have been hit by the power cut. There are also some water shortages. Most of Crimea's two million people have been hit by the power cut. There are also water shortages.
Public transport is still running and Crimean hospitals are using generators. But the blackout has shut down many businesses and plunged the streets into darkness. Public transport is still running and hospitals are using generators. But the blackout has shut down many businesses and plunged the streets into darkness.
A state of emergency was imposed in Crimea on Sunday after the four pylons were damaged. Monday was declared a non-working day. A state of emergency was imposed on Sunday and Monday was declared a non-working day.
The blackout cut cable and mobile internet and forced the closure of some 150 schools. The blackout forced the closure of some 150 schools.
It is still not clear exactly how the pylons were damaged in Kherson, a Ukrainian region adjacent to Crimea. That region has been tense since Russia's annexation of Crimea - an act that was condemned internationally. "We are outraged by the cut-off... because a lot of us have electric cookers, we can't wash properly at the moment... our fridges are defrosting," Sevastopol resident Raisa Kazhyrnova told Reuters news agency.
Crimean Tatar activists suggested that the weakened pylons were blown down by the wind. Ukraine's state energy company, Ukrenergo, said the damage to the pylons was caused by "shelling or the use of explosive devices".
But Ukraine's state energy company, Ukrenergo, said the damage was caused by "shelling or the use of explosive devices".
Trade tensionsTrade tensions
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the government "is temporarily banning cargo traffic on the administrative border" between Ukraine and Crimea. Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the government "is temporarily banning cargo traffic on the administrative border" between Ukraine and Crimea.
He also warned that Ukraine would respond in kind if Russia introduced an embargo on Ukrainian products, as Moscow has threatened to do. He also warned Ukraine would respond in kind if Russia introduced an embargo on Ukrainian products, as Moscow has threatened to do.
Russia is angry at Ukraine's decision to implement a free trade agreement with the EU in January 2016. Russia says the deal will undermine its producers, because EU exporters are likely to use Ukraine as a back door into the Russian market. Russia is angry at Ukraine's decision to implement a free trade agreement with the EU on 1 January 2016.
Russia has blamed Ukrainian nationalists from far-right party Right Sector and Crimean Tatar activists for the pylon damage, calling it "an act of terrorism". Russia says the deal will undermine its producers, because EU exporters are likely to use Ukraine as a back door into the Russian market.
A Crimean Tatar activist told Ukraine's TV news broadcaster 112 Ukrayina that Russia must release "political prisoners" and let their leader return to Crimea in exchange for repairs to the power lines. Russia has blamed Ukrainian nationalists and Crimean Tatar activists for the pylon damage, calling it "an act of terrorism".
Crimean Tatar activists said Russia must release "political prisoners" and let their leaders return to Crimea in exchange for the repair work.
Emergency timetableEmergency timetable
Crimean Tatar activists accuse Russia of abusing Tatar rights and denying them a voice since a pro-Moscow government was installed in Crimea. Crimean Tatar activists accuse Russia of abusing their rights.
Images on social media show Ukrainian flags on some damaged pylons - and Crimean Tatar flags on others. Crimean authorities said they had managed to partially reconnect some cities using generators.
Crimean authorities said they had managed to partially reconnect the cities of Simferopol, Yalta and Sevastopol using generators. But emergency power-saving measures have been imposed across the peninsula.
Emergency power-saving measures have been imposed: Sevastopol is getting three hours' supply, followed by a six-hour cut; in Simferopol residents have three-hour power cuts three times a day.
Russia has started laying undersea cables to connect Crimea to its power grid. But the first phase will only take effect next month and the switch to Russia as the main supplier will take several years to complete.Russia has started laying undersea cables to connect Crimea to its power grid. But the first phase will only take effect next month and the switch to Russia as the main supplier will take several years to complete.