Moldova grapples with outages as energy crisis grips pro-Russia region

COPANCA, Moldova: When the electricity is cut off in his village in southern Moldova, a former Soviet state in eastern Europe, 73-year-old retiree Vasili Donici spends his time solving crosswords and puzzles under the light of a small gas lamp.

"It's a bit hard without electricity," said the former deputy school director. He has stored up firewood to keep his wood-burning stove running and warm the room he shares