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Baltic states cut connections with Russian power grid
- 12 days ago (2025-02-10)
- David Flin
The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have cut all connections with Russia’s power grid and joined the EU’s network.
WBE 2025
They said that they did this to block Russia’s ability to geopolitically blackmail them via the electricity system. Zygimantas Vaiciunas, the Lithuanian Energy Minister, said: “We have removed any theoretical possibility of Russia using energy grid control as a weapon.” He said that the Baltics were now operating in isolated mode before integrating with the European grid.
Dan Jorgensen, European Commissioner for Energy, said: “It’s important to underline that this is about security. No European country should be dependent on Russia for anything.”
€1.6 billion has been invested in the synchronisation project across the Baltic states and Poland.
The Baltics have long prepared to integrate with the European grid but faced technological and financial issues. The switch became more urgent after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, causing the Baltic states to think they could be targeted. They stopped purchasing Russian gas and electricity after the invasion but their power grids remained connected to Russia and Belarus, controlled from Moscow.
Several undersea telecom and power cables have been severed in the Baltic Sea in recent months, with experts accusing Russia of deliberately cutting them.