The Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—are severing their electricity grid connections with Russia and Belarus, marking a significant geopolitical shift. This move is aimed at reducing reliance on Russian energy, especially after the invasion of Ukraine spurred urgent reforms. As part of a larger EU strategy, officials will attend a ceremony celebrating the disconnection, which involves the dismantling of former power lines and transitioning to a new grid linked with the EU. This transition will see the Baltics operate independently before fully integrating with the Continental European and Nordic grids.
This is physical disconnection from the last remaining element of our reliance on the Russian and Belorussian energy system," said Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda.
Nearly three and a half decades after leaving the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this weekend will flip a switch to end electricity-grid connections to neighbouring Russia and Belarus.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and other dignitaries are expected for a ceremony on Sunday as a specially-made 9-meter tall clock in downtown Vilnius counts down the final seconds of the Baltic states' electricity ties to Russia.
Sixteen power lines that used to connect three Baltic states with Russia and Belarus were dismantled over the years as a new grid linking them with the rest of the EU was created.
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