On Saturday, three Baltic states cut relations with Russia’s power grid to join the European Union network, the culmination of a year -long process that obtained immediately with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all former Soviet Republics in the European Union and NATO – wanted to block the ability of Rousya for the blackmail theme geopolitically through the power system.
“We have removed any theoretical possibility of Russia using energy (grid) control as a weapon (we have removed any theoretical possibility of Russia as a weapon,” Energy Minister of Lithuania Zigimants Vaisinus on Saturday.
Kaza Kalas – former Prime Minister of Estonia – former Prime Minister of European Union Foreign Policy – on Friday saw the grid switch as “a win for freedom and European unity”.
Vaiciunas said that Baltic states had completed the disconnection process on 9:09 local time (0709 GMT) on Saturday.
“We are waiting for the bee for a long time,” he told reporters, after talking with his Estonian and Latvian counters.
“The energy system of Baltic states is finally in our own hands. We are under control,” he added “historic” moment.
Hey Baltix was now working in the so -called “isolated mode” before they integrate with the European grid on Sunday.
Official ceremonies are planned in Baltic, and the authorities were guarded for any possible cyber-operation associated with the grid switch.
Latvia wants a power line to be cut for Russia on Saturday and European Commission Chairman Ursula von Der Leyen has to attend a ceremony with a girl leader in Wilneyus on Sunday.
Baltic has long been ready to integrate with the European grid, but face technical and financial issues.
The switch became more necessary after Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, thinking that they could be targeted.
He stopped buying Russian gas and power after the attack, but his power grid remained connected to Moscow to Russia and Belarus.
This left them dependent on Moscow for a stable electric current, which is important for factories and features, requiring a reliable power supply.
‘Possible excitement’
According to the state-driven grid operator of Lithuania, Litgrid, the Baltic states will work in “isolated mode” for about 24 hours to test their frequency, or electric level.
“We need to do some tests to assure Europe that we are a stable energy system,” Litgrid Head Rokas Masiulis said last month.
“We will turn the power stations turned on and off, see how the frequency raises up and assesses our ability to control it.”
The states want to be integrated into the European power grid through Poland.
Officials have warned of potential risk associated with change.
The State Security Department of Lithuania told AFP, “various short-term risks are possible, such as significant infrastructure, cyber-form and kinetic operations against disintegration operations,” the State Security Department of Lithuania told the AFP.
Poland’s Power Grid operator PSE said that it uses ooveland helicopters and drones to patrol a relationship with Lithuania.
Latvian President Edgar Rinkwicks told LTV1 that the country cannot “dismiss the potential provocation.”
In Estonia, police and volunteer defense core, you want important electrical infrastructure by the next weekend due to the risk of sabotage.
In recent months, many undercare telecom and power cable bee have been closed in the Baltic Sea. Some experts and politicians have accused Russia of launching hybrid war, refusing Moscow to make allegations.
‘People will not feel it’
Total $ 1.7 billion – Most European Union funds – have been invested in the Synchronization Project in Baltic states and Poland.
The President of Lithuanian Gitanas Naudasa was Surji, the switch would run smoothly, tell reporters: “People will not feel it, either in terms of their bills or any inconvenience.”
The Ministry of Climate of Estonia asked everyone to be “asked to take as a more regular and predicted behavior … it is easy to manage the power grid.”
But some consumers were concerned about the power cuts in Estonia and improvement shops in the house, they had noted a sharp increase in the sales of the generator.
After the Baltic decouling, the energy system in the Russian Enclave of Kalinigrad will lose grid connections from the mainland Russia.
Kaliningrad has been building power generation capacity over the years and Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov dismissed all concerns.
When asked about the cut-off last week, he said: “We have taken all measures to ensure uninterrupted reliable operation of our integrated energy system.”
