Baltic States Sever Russian Power Grid Ties, Join European Network

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have completed a long-planned move to disconnect from Russia's electricity grid, marking a significant step toward energy independence.

The Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—disconnected from Russia's BRELL power grid on February 8, ending decades of dependency on Russian-controlled energy infrastructure.
The transition to the European power grid will be finalized on February 9, following a 24-hour test period operating in 'isolated mode.'
Leaders from all three nations framed the move as a critical step toward energy independence and a response to geopolitical threats, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The project required years of planning and €1.6 billion in investments, including new undersea and land-based power connections to integrate with the European grid via Poland.
Authorities have heightened security around critical energy infrastructure, citing risks of potential sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns linked to Russia.

Courrier International