Baltic States Disconnect from Russian Power Grid in Historic Move

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania sever ties with Russia's energy system, achieving greater independence and integrating into the European grid.

The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania officially disconnected from the Russian and Belarusian power grid on Saturday morning, marking the end of decades-long energy dependence dating back to the Soviet era.
The countries will operate independently for 24 hours in an 'island mode' before synchronizing with the European grid via Poland on Sunday.
This move is seen as a security measure to prevent Russia from using energy as a geopolitical weapon, a concern heightened by the ongoing war in Ukraine and prior incidents of infrastructure sabotage in the region.
The project, costing approximately €1.6 billion and largely funded by the European Union, involved building new infrastructure and ensuring the stability of the Baltic energy system.
Officials across the EU and Baltic nations hailed the transition as a victory for democracy, freedom, and European unity, with celebrations planned in the region and high-level EU participation.