Crimea in the dark as power lines from Ukraine are taken down

BBC:

Crimea has been plunged into darkness after pylons carrying power lines which supply electricity from Ukraine were reportedly blown up on Saturday night.

All four power lines were cut, reports said, leaving the region's two million inhabitants without electricity.

Images circulated on social media appeared to show Ukrainian flags attached to the damaged pylons.

Crimea was annexed by Russia last year, but the Ukrainian authorities have continued to supply power to the area.

Crimean authorities said they had managed to partially reconnect the cities of Simferopol, Yalta and Saky using generators.

Mikhail Sheremet, Crimea's deputy prime minister, said the peninsula's hospitals had backup power sources and would not be affected.

The Crimean Emergencies Ministry has declared a state of emergency and put rescue teams on high alert.
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I noted this vulnerability when Russia first took over Crimea and the only surprise has been that it took this long to do it.  But the downing of the power lines does coincide with Moscow's current attention in Syria and dealing with the ISIL attack on a passenger jet.