Baltic states to remove the historic switch from the Russian power grid

The Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are preparing to unplug from Russia’s power grid and join the European Union network after more than three decades of leaving.

The two -day process will start from Saturday, the residents are the forecast of serious weather to charge their equipment, stock and prepare on food and water.

Many people have been asked not to use lifts – while in some areas the traffic lights will stop.

A huge, especially built watch, will count the last second before the transition to a historic ceremony in the capital of Lithuania on Sunday, the European Union head Ursula von Der Leyen attended.

The three nations will then officially transition away from the so -called Braille Power Grid, which has associated them with Russia and Belarus since the end of World War 2.

Braille Grid – stands for Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania – is almost completely controlled by Russia and has long been seen as a vulnerability to Soviet republics, which is now seen as a vulnerability. Are members of

After disconnecting from this, the three countries will work in “isolated mode” for about 24 hours – only live on their power – before integrating in the European grid through Poland.

“We are now removing the ability to use as a tool of geopolitical blackmail to use Russia’s power system,” Energy Minister of Lithuania Zigimnts Vaisinus told the AFP news agency.

David Smith, professor at the Baltic Research Unit at the University of Glasgow, told the BBC, “This is the culmination of efforts of more than 10 years or more than 20 years to reduce that energy dependence.”

“When the Baltic states joined the European Union and NATO, everyone talked about being an energy island about them that still depended on the joint power network with Belarus and Russia,” Smith said. “It is now completely broken.”

Tension between Baltic states and Russia, which shares a combined 543 mile–Lumb (874 km) border, has increased since the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022.

Since then, a part of incidents of suspected sabotage associated with electric cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea has inspired apprehensions that Moscow can retaliate against the European Union’s change towards energy.

In the last 18 months, at least 11 cables running under the Baltic Sea have been damaged. In a recent case, A ship of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers was accused of damaging the main power link of Estonia In the Gulf of Finland. Kremlin refused to comment.

NATO has not accused Russia, but has responded by launching a new patrol mission in an area called Baltic Santri.

“We cannot dismiss any kind of provocation. That is why Latvian and foreign security officials are on high warning,” Latvian President Edgar Rinkswis said on Wednesday.

“There are clearly risks, we understand that very well,” Latvian Prime Minister Equika Cilina resonated. “But risks are identified and there is a casual plan.”

A spokesman at the NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence told BBC News that in recent months, frequent emergency operations have been conducted in recent months to help prepare for possible targeted attacks on the energy system.

The head of Estonia’s Cyber ​​Security Center, Gurt Auvart told BBC News in a statement that Russia may “try to take advantage of the period to create uncertainty”, but said that due to international cooperation, Estonia “well Was prepared- case landscape “.

He said cyber attacks against the country had increased after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and “Halvist-DDOS attacks more refined than the refusal-service, range from government agencies and businesses”.

Baltic states will also be on the clock for incorrect information campaigns related to infection.

Shortly after informing Russia about his decision to withdraw from Braille in August 2024, the disruptive campaign on social media was incorrectly revealed of supply failures and rising prices, if countries to leave the joint power grid.