After more than thirty years post-Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have initiated the process of disconnecting from Russia's electricity grid and integrating into the EU's network.
The transition started on Saturday, advising residents to charge devices, stock essentials, and prepare for potential severe weather conditions. Precautions included avoiding lifts and in some areas, temporary traffic light outages.
A landmark ceremony in Lithuania's capital on Sunday will mark the transition, attended by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. This move signifies their official separation from the grid linking them to Russia since post-World War Two years under the Brell power grid.
Despite not purchasing electricity from Russia since 2022, their tie to the Brell grid has made them reliant on Moscow for energy supply. Following the disconnection on Saturday, the countries will conduct frequency tests before connecting to the European grid via Poland on Sunday.
Lithuania's Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas stated, "We are now removing Russia's ability to use the electricity system as a tool of geopolitical blackmail," emphasizing the long-term efforts to diminish energy dependence.
Professor David Smith of the Baltic Research Unit at the University of Glasgow highlighted the significance of this shift away from dependency on Belarus and Russia, noting the precarious energy situation that predated their EU and Nato membership.
Given increased tensions post Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, security concerns loom over potential retaliatory actions. NATO has launched the Baltic Sentry patrol mission, anticipating and preparing for threats to the energy infrastructure.
Noting possible provocations, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasized heightened vigilance, echoed by Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina's acknowledgment of identified risks and contingency plans.
International collaboration and readiness play a crucial role in mitigating potential risks, with preparatory measures against targeted attacks evident in recent emergency operation tests.
Estonia's Cybersecurity Centre head Gert Auvaart highlighted the potential for uncertainty by Russia during this period but expressed confidence in Estonia’s readiness against cyber-attacks, which escalated post-Ukraine invasion.
Vigilance against disinformation campaigns, particularly social media-driven, has been heightened since notifying Russia of the withdrawal from Brell in August 2024. These campaigns aim to instigate panic about power supply failures and price surges upon disconnection from the joint power grid.