On a significant day for the Baltic region, the connection between the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and Russia was officially severed on Saturday morning. This marked a historic transition as officials switched off the Soviet-era grid's transmission lines in preparation to sync with the broader European energy network on Sunday.
This disconnection represents the end of the Baltics' final energy ties to Russia, more than three decades after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The decision carries substantial geopolitical and symbolic weight for these countries, affirming their quest for energy independence from their historically dominant neighbor. "The Baltic energy system is finally in our hands, we are in full control," stated Lithuania's Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas during a press conference.
On Saturday, all remaining transmission lines connecting the Baltic states to Russia, Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad were methodically switched off, starting with Lithuania, followed shortly by Latvia and then Estonia. Following the disconnection from the Soviet-era grid, the Baltic Power System is set to operate independently for a 24-hour period. If the transition goes smoothly, the system will join the European energy network on Sunday afternoon via several links with Finland, Sweden, and Poland.
A ceremony is scheduled in Lithuania on Sunday evening, with the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the presidents of Poland and the Baltic states, and other dignitaries. The Baltic nations, which are members of NATO, have maintained strained relations with Russia since they declared independence from the USSR in 1990, particularly escalating after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In recent years, a total of sixteen power lines that once connected the Baltic states to Russia and Belarus have been dismantled. This is part of a larger effort to establish a new grid that connects the Baltic countries with the European Union, including the installation of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. "This is a physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our reliance on the Russian and Belarusian energy system," remarked Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in a recent interview.
The Baltic countries share a combined border of 1,633 kilometers (1,015 miles) with Russia and Belarus. In anticipation of this disconnection, they notified Moscow and Minsk in 2024 to avoid any adverse reactions. "We have a protocol with the Russians on how everything should be disconnected," said Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid, to reporters on Saturday. Leaders from all three Baltic nations have assured their citizens that the transition would proceed without issues, although precautionary measures have been implemented to mitigate potential provocations.
In Latvia, the National Armed Forces and the National Guard were instructed to operate in a heightened alert mode to safeguard the process. Fortunately, there were no reported incidents early on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Kaliningrad region has already adapted to its new reality of relying on its independent power generation, as confirmed by Litgrid.
