"Removing the Tool for Blackmail": Baltic States Disconnect from Soviet-Era Russian and Belarusian Power Grid

The three Baltic countries, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, former Soviet republics integrated into the European Union and NATO since 2004, disconnected from the common power grid with Russia and Belarus at 9am today, after which the three Baltic States' power systems remained autonomous as of 9:09am. Tomorrow, on Sunday, the Baltic States will connect to the continental European grid via Poland.

The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, hailed the ‘victory of democracy’.

‘Tomorrow, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will be permanently disconnected from the Russian energy system. Russia can no longer use energy as an instrument of blackmail. This is a victory for freedom and European unity,’ she said. 

‘It happened a few minutes ago, at 9:09 to be exact. Both Estonia and the other Baltic States have left the Russian frequency band,’ Ain Kester, spokesperson for the Estonian system operator Elering, told ERR.

According to the company, the Baltic States successfully disconnected their power systems from the Russian-controlled frequency band on Saturday morning and are now operating independently in island mode.

‘We did quite well. The whole process took almost three hours. Our southern neighbours started their operations at six o'clock. The lines between Lithuania and the Königsberg region were disconnected at around 6.40. Lines between Lithuania and Belarus at 7.30. Lines between Latvia and Russia at eight, and now ours at nine,’ Kester said.

When asked why the cut-off occurred at 9:09 a.m. and not for an hour, Kester said that such a switch never happens for a minute.

Lithuanian Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas confirmed that at 9:09 a.m. all Baltic States were disconnected from the Russian power system (UES/IPS), which has been in place since Soviet times.

‘I just had a meeting with the ministers of Latvia and Estonia. The good news is that at 9.9 am. 9, ‘the Baltic States disconnected from the Russian and Belarusian systems,’ he told reporters at the Litgrid control and data security centre in Vilnius. 

‘We are switching to an isolated mode of operation.’ ‘The Baltic power system is finally in our hands, we control it,’ he added.

Of the 11 lines that Lithuania has had in recent years, only one is currently operating with Belarus, and three of the six are with the Kaliningrad region. Their dismantling is scheduled to begin in February.

Latvia also disconnected from the Russian system at eight in the morning. Latvian national broadcasting also confirmed the same on its website.

On Friday, at 23:59, the Baltic Sea Interconnection Agreement with Russia and Belarus (BRELL) officially expired. 

The Baltic States are to be synchronised with the continental European grid tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, 9 February.

Prior to that, island tests will be conducted by the operators of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian power systems Elering, AST and Litgrid. During the test, the electricity system covering the Baltic States will operate in a way that is not part of any other frequency band. Electricity consumption during this period will be covered by local power plants and the DC connections of Estonia, Finland and Lithuania and Sweden.