On Saturday, the three Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—started the process of cutting their electricity ties with Russia. This move is part of their plan to join Europe’s power grid, something they’ve been working on for years, especially since Russia invaded Ukraine. They want to stop Russia from using their electric supply as a way to threaten them.
Lithuania was the first to disconnect from the Russian electricity network. Lithuania’s Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas shared that this change means they are no longer letting Russia use electricity as a weapon against them. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas praised this step as a win for freedom and a sign of unity in Europe.
Around 7:43 AM local time, Lithuania’s electricity links with Russia’s Kaliningrad and Belarus were unplugged. Estonia and Latvia plan to follow soon after. Celebrations are expected in all three countries, but some people are worried about possible blackouts or cyber-attacks on their systems. Latvia will even cut a power line to Russia on the same day, and the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, will join Baltic leaders in a ceremony on Sunday.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas called this the start of a new era for energy independence. The Baltic states have worked hard to join the European power grid but faced technical and financial challenges. The urgency to disconnect grew after the invasion in 2022, leaving these nations less reliant on Russian energy.
After disconnecting, the Baltic nations will run for about 24 hours in what is called “isolated mode” to check how well the system works without Russia. Lithuanian energy officials state that this is necessary to show Europe that they have a stable energy network. There will be tests to control electricity more reliably, ensuring it can safely meet the needs of homes and businesses.
However, officials warn of challenges, like possible cyber-attacks or issues with their critical infrastructure. Poland’s electricity operators will use drones and helicopters to monitor the connection with Lithuania. The Latvian President said they are fully prepared but reminded everyone that they need to be alert for any unexpected actions.
As a precaution, Estonian police and volunteers will watch over important electrical stations until the next weekend. There have been recent incidents of undersea power cables being cut in the Baltic Sea, leading some experts to suspect that Russia may be waging a “hybrid war.”
Around 1.6 billion euros, mostly from the EU, has been invested in connecting these Baltic countries to the European system. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda believes the switch will be smooth, promising there won’t be any issues with electricity supply. Estonia’s climate ministry encourages everyone to keep their daily routine normal, as this will help manage the new changes. However, some people fear power outages and local stores in Estonia have seen increased sales of generators.
After the Baltic states cut ties with Russia, the power system in Kaliningrad, a Russian territory, will also be affected, losing its connection to Russia. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured that they are prepared for any interruptions, saying all necessary steps have been taken for smooth operations.
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