VILNIUS, Lithuania — The electrical link between the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and Russia was officially cut on Saturday morning, marking a significant step for these countries. This event occurred as officials deactivated the transmission lines from the Soviet era in preparation for future integration with the broader European electrical network, which is set to begin on Sunday.
This decisive action culminates over thirty years after the Soviet Union disintegrated, effectively ending the last remaining energy connection of the Baltic states to Russia, a nation rich in oil and gas. The disconnection is believed to carry considerable geopolitical and symbolic weight for both the Baltics and wider Europe.
Lithuania’s Energy Minister, Žygimantas Vai?i?nas, expressed a sense of accomplishment, stating, “The Baltic energy system is finally in our hands, we are in full control,” when addressing the media.
As part of this transition, the last remaining power lines connecting these countries to Russia, Belarus, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad were systematically switched off. Lithuania was the first to disconnect, marked by a specially designed 9-meter tall clock that counted down the final seconds in Vilnius, followed closely by Latvia and then Estonia.
Following this disconnection, the Baltic Power System will operate independently for a 24-hour period. If everything proceeds as planned, the power system will connect to the European energy grids on Sunday afternoon, establishing several new links with Finland, Sweden, and Poland.
On Sunday evening, a ceremony is expected to take place in Vilnius, attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Poland and the Baltic states, alongside other esteemed guests.
These three nations, all members of NATO, have maintained tense relations with Russia since they regained independence from the USSR in 1990, a situation exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Over recent years, sixteen power lines that previously connected the Baltic states to Russia and Belarus have been dismantled, with a new grid now established to connect them to the European Union, which includes underwater cables traversing the Baltic Sea.
In a recent interview, Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus?da commented, “This is a physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our reliance on the Russian and Belarusian energy system.”
These three Baltic nations, which collectively share a 1,633-kilometer (1,015-mile) border with Russia and Belarus, communicated their disconnection plan to Moscow and Minsk ahead of time in 2024 to mitigate the risk of any potential backlash.
Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid, confirmed that protocols have been established with Russia regarding the disconnection process. The leaders of the Baltic states have assured their citizens that the transition should be seamless, although enhanced measures were enacted to guard against any unforeseen provocations.
In Latvia, both the National Armed Forces and the National Guard were placed on heightened alert to maintain security. Fortunately, there have been no reported incidents as the disconnection unfolded early Saturday. According to Litgrid, the Kaliningrad region, which lacks direct land connections to mainland Russia, has already established its own power generation capabilities.
