The three Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, officially disconnected their electricity systems from Russia’s power grid yesterday.
The move is seen as part of a broader plan to integrate more closely with the European Union and strengthen regional security. The move also severs the Baltics’ final energy ties to oil- and gas-rich Russia, more than three decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse.
The decision carries both geopolitical and symbolic weight for the three countries and the rest of Europe. Following the detachment from the Soviet-era grid, the Baltic Power System will operate independently for 24 hours.
If all proceeds as planned, the system will connect with European energy networks today through links with Finland, Sweden, and Poland. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the presidents of Poland and the Baltic states, will attend a ceremony in Lithuania today to mark the occasion, joined by other dignitaries.