Baltic States decouple from Russian power grid in historic move

Greater than 30 years after regaining their independence from the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have disconnected themselves from the Russian vitality system.

Shortly after 9 am (0700 GMT) on Saturday, the three Baltic international locations have been disconnected from the electrical energy grid with Russia, which they’d remained related to since Soviet instances.

The disconnection went easily and was not seen by shoppers, in keeping with the grid operators in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. “The techniques are secure and safe,” they stated in a written assertion on Saturday.

For in the future, the electrical energy grids of the three international locations will now operate on their very own in what known as “island mode” – and can then be built-in into the European system by way of Poland on Sunday.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa spoke of the biggest and most essential challenge for vitality independence and regional safety in many years.

Energy imports from Russia lengthy since stopped

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stopped importing electrical energy from Russia as a part of the fallout from the invasion of Ukraine.

Nonetheless, they have been nonetheless a part of a standard, synchronized grid with Russia and Belarus courting again to Soviet instances. This was thought of a safety threat.

After the grid change, they are going to be capable to management the essential parameters of the electrical energy system themselves, reminiscent of frequency and voltage.

“Russia can not use vitality as a instrument of blackmail. This can be a victory for freedom and European unity,” wrote the EU’s international coverage chief, Kaja Kallas, on X on Friday.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been pressured to change into a part of the Soviet Union after the Second World Battle till they regained their independence in 1991.

The international locations had already been shifting in direction of decoupling from the Russian system, however solely in the beginning of 2026.

Russia’s assault on Ukraine in February 2022 accelerated the challenge, which was largely funded by the EU.

The prices for constructing the required infrastructure totalled round €1.6 billion ($1.65 billion).