Baltic states switch to European power grid, solve Russia binding

Baltic states switch to European power grid, solve Russia binding

Vilnius, Lithuania (Reuters) - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania successfully synchronized their electricity systems with the European continental power network on Sunday. This happened a day after she did the decades of Russia and Belarus had interrupted.

important measure for the Baltic energy independence

The complex step away from the power grid operated by the former Soviet imperial power was planned for several years. The aim is to connect the three Baltic states more closely with the European Union and to strengthen the energy supply of the region.

a happy moment for Latvia

"We did it!" Explained the Latvian President Edgar Rinkēvičs in a contribution on the social platform X.

The separation from the old system

After the separation on Saturday from the IPS/UPS network, which was set up by the Soviet Union in the 1950s and now operated by Russia, the Baltic states cut the cross-border high-voltage lines in the eastern Latvia, about 100 meters from the Russian border. As a memory, they distributed pieces of cut -out wires to enthusiastic viewers.

a victory for freedom and European unity

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy head and himself Estin, described the change this week as "a victory for freedom and European unity".

watchful times in the Baltic Sea region

The Baltic Sea region is under high alarm, as there is power outputs, telecommunications problems and gas pipelines came between the Baltic States as well as Sweden or Finland. All incidents were viewed as a result of ships that dig over the seabed in the anchors after Russia marched into Ukraine. Russia contested a participation in these incidents.

state measures and military exercises

Poland and the Baltic States use naval merchants, elite police units and helicopters after a subseous power cable from Finland to Estonia was damaged in December. At the same time, the Lithuanian military started with exercises to secure the land -based connection to Poland.

rising energy prices feared

Analysts warn that further damage to the connections could increase electricity prices in the Baltic States to the level that has not been seen since Ukraine's invasion of the energy prices.

last connection to Russia cut

The IPS/UPS network was the last remaining connection to Russia for the three countries that became independent again after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.

energy independence according to invasion

The three vehement supporters of Kiev ceased the power reference from Russia in Ukraine 2022 after the Moscow invasion of Moscow, but continued to rely on the Russian network to control frequencies and stabilize networks to avoid power outages.