Oh, rejoice! A round of applause for the “Vulkangruppe” (Volcano Group), our brave eco-warriors who have heroically plunged around 45,000 Berlin households and 2,000 businesses into a delightful, old-world darkness. In their infinite wisdom, they decided the best way to protest the fossil fuel industry was to set some high-voltage cables on fire, leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity, heat, or hot water. Truly, a masterstroke of environmental activism! (Sources: 1, 3, 4)

This isn’t their first rodeo, of course. These masterminds of inconvenience are the same folks who brought us Berlin’s longest power outage in 2025, a stunning 60-hour blackout. (Source: 2) This time, as temperatures in Berlin dropped below freezing, their communique clarified that this wasn’t meant to be a general blackout, just a targeted message. I’m sure the families in the freezing dark and the kids whose schools were closed really appreciate that subtle distinction. (Sources: 3, 7)

Terrorism? Or Just Performance Art?

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, clearly lacking a sense of humor about the situation, has labeled this an act of “terrorism.” (Source: 5) One person’s heroic act of sabotage is another’s reason they can’t make coffee in the morning, I suppose. While officials call for better security, the Vulkangruppe is probably already planning their next stunning piece of protest art that coincidentally looks a lot like arson. (Sources: 6, 12)

A Silver (or Amber) Lining

But fear not, my shivering Berliners! Here’s a fantastic little tidbit to warm your spirits. In a completely unrelated, yet perfectly timed, piece of news, it turns out Germany has some of the cheapest alcohol in the entire European Union! (Source: 13) Yes, according to Eurostat, booze prices here are a glorious 14% below the EU average. (Source: 13, 15)

So, while you can’t turn on your lights, you can certainly light up your insides with some budget-friendly beer and spirits. When life gives you eco-terrorists, make Glühwein. On a camping stove. If you can find one. A toast to the Vulkangruppe for this enforced return to simpler, colder, and slightly tipsier times!

Sources:

• DW: Germany News: Berlin still shivering amid power outage
• DW: Germany: Power back for some Berliners, but others freeze on
• CNBC: Berlin power outage: Officials suspect arson attack
• Politico.eu: Left-wing ‘Vulkan’ group claims responsibility for sabotage, massive blackout in Berlin
• CBS News: Berlin power outage from “Vulkangruppe” left-wing arson attack called terrorism
• The New York Times: Berlin power failure fire
• Clean Energy Wire: Berlin arson attack, power blackout triggers calls to put security over transparency
• The Times of India on Vulkangruppe’s letter
• DW: German police suspect arson behind Berlin power outage
• BBC News on Berlin power grid attack
• The Guardian: Leftwing militants claim responsibility for arson attack on Berlin power grid
• Reuters: Berlin mayor warns on infrastructure after power station attack
• DW: Germany: Alcohol prices well below EU average
• RetailDetail EU: Alcohol prices in Belgium among the highest in Europe
• Zeit Online: Alcohol in Germany is particularly cheap
• Wikipedia: Vulkangruppe
• rbb24: Vulkangruppe claims responsibility for attack
• Tagesspiegel: “Vulkangruppe” claims responsibility for attack on power supply
• t-online: The enigmatic volcano group
• t-online: Vulkangruppe confesses to mega blackout