Baltic countries make a historic switch from Russia’s power

The three countries officially transition from the so-called Brell Power Grid, which has been connected to Russia and Belarus since the end of World War II.

The Brelgrid, representing Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, is almost entirely managed by Russia and has long been seen as vulnerability in the former Soviet Republic, now a member of NATO.

After cutting, the three countries will then operate in “separation mode” (survive only on their own powers) for about 24 hours before integrating into the European grid via Poland.

“We are now removing the ability to use the Russian electricity system as a geopolitical, scary mail tool,” Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas told AFP news agency.

“It is the culmination of over a decade of efforts to reduce its energy dependence,” said David Smith, professor of the Baltic Sea Research Unit at the University of Glasgow.

“When the Baltic countries joined the EU and NATO, everyone talked about how they are energy islands that still rely on a joint power network with Belarus and Russia,” Smith said. “It’s completely broken now.”