Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have officially severed their electricity grid connections with Russia, marking a crucial step toward deeper integration with the European Union. The disconnection, which took place on Saturday, February 8, 2025, brings an end to decades of reliance on Russia’s power infrastructure and completes a transition that has been years in the making.
For the next 24 hours, the three Baltic states will operate independently before synchronizing with the EU’s grid at 12:00 GMT on Sunday, February 9. This move, long discussed as a strategic priority, gained momentum after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and accelerated following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The shift ensures that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will no longer be dependent on Russia to stabilize their power networks, eliminating a vulnerability that experts have warned could be exploited in times of geopolitical tension.
Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas described the transition as an achievement the region had worked toward for many years. “We are now in control,” he said at a press conference following the disconnection. The shift is also viewed as a measure to protect national security. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that breaking away from Russia’s grid prevents Moscow from using energy as a tool of influence.
Although the three nations stopped purchasing electricity from Russia in 2022, they had continued relying on Moscow’s grid for stability. Their departure from the BRELL system, a Soviet-era power network that also includes Belarus, required extensive infrastructure upgrades. Since 2018, the Baltic states have spent approximately €1.6 billion ($1.66 billion) on modernizing their grids and constructing new power interconnections with Finland, Sweden, and Poland. Russia, in turn, allocated nearly 100 billion roubles ($1 billion) to build additional power plants in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave now cut off from the main Russian grid.
Security concerns remain a top priority during the transition. A Latvian power substation near the Russian border was visibly guarded by military personnel, reflecting concerns over possible sabotage attempts. Baltic officials have also warned of potential cyberattacks, noting that Russia has previously targeted energy infrastructure in Europe.
As part of the transition, authorities have conducted emergency operation tests to prepare for disruptions. Lithuania has drawn up contingency plans that would allow temporary power cuts to heavy industrial users to ensure essential services remain operational. Estonia’s cybersecurity chief, Gert Auvaart, warned that Russia could attempt to exploit this period to create instability, but assured that Estonia is well-prepared for worst-case scenarios.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend a ceremony in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sunday to mark the occasion. A 9-meter (29.5-foot) clock in downtown Vilnius will count down the final seconds before the Baltic states officially synchronize with the EU’s Continental Europe Synchronous Area.
While Russia has not openly protested the move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that the plan had been announced well in advance, allowing Russian energy operators time to adjust. However, some experts believe the disconnection could lead to further tensions, particularly if Moscow perceives it as part of a broader effort to isolate Russia economically and politically.
This transition marks the culmination of decades of effort to achieve energy independence. The Baltic states, which joined the EU and NATO in 2004, have long sought to distance themselves from Russian energy control. Lithuania, for example, built an offshore oil terminal in 1999 to reduce reliance on Russian energy imports. In 2009, it decommissioned the Soviet-built Ignalina nuclear power plant, a move that was required as part of its EU membership.
The disconnection is not just a technical shift but a geopolitical statement. As Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa put it, “Clearly there are risks, we understand that very well. But the risks are identified, and there is a contingency plan in case these risks materialize.”
With the move now in effect, the Baltic nations have taken another step away from their Soviet past, reinforcing their commitment to European energy independence and security.
Russia = Red
Estonia = Orange
Latvia = Green
Lithuania = Blue
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license and was created using MapChart(https://mapchart.net).
