Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania Cut Ties with Russia’s Power Grid

What Happened?

Saturday, February 8, 2025 the Baltic nations of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania cut their connection to Russia’s power grid.

They opted instead to connect with the power grid from the European Union.

‘We've reached the goal we strived for, for so long. We are now in control,’ Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said during a press conference to mark the transition. 

After disconnecting from Russia’s grid, workers cut pieces of the former power line and handed them out as keepsakes to the gathered crowd. ‘We will never use it again. We are moving on,’ Latvia's Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis told Reuters in Vilaka.

Why it Matters

The switch from Russian to the European Union’s power grid has both practical and symbolic significance. On the practical side, the move will provide the three Baltic nations with a source of energy not directly subject to threats of service denial by Putin’s regime in Moscow. 

It will also bring the Baltic nations closer to being a part of the European Union’s economy.

There is also symbolic significance, as the three nations so close to Russia have long been considered de facto Russian territory by Moscow. While connected to the Russian power grid, Moscow had another form of leverage over the Baltics. 

Moscow has used the threat of cutting off or interrupting the power supply as a tool to coerce the Baltics into following Russia’s lead in terms of policies. Such a literal cutting of ties to Russia could be interpreted as a move by the Baltic states away from Russia and towards the European Union. 

‘By ending the energy dependence of the Baltic states on Russia, we are leaving the aggressor without the option of using energy as a weapon against us,’ Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

Russia has long used energy as an effective weapon against not only the Baltic states but also Ukraine and the European Union. But the switch by Baltic nations could lead other Russian satellite countries to rethink their energy ties to Moscow. 

For its part Russia has said little publicly so far about the move by its Baltic neighbors. While many ethnic Russians live in the Baltic states, the move to cut ties to the Russian power grid and connect to the European Union’s appears to have popular support in all three Baltic nations. 

How it Affects You

For Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, cutting ties to the Russian power grid enhances their security and economic stability. 

While Russia has yet to respond, there is a strong likelihood they will in the near future. Russia is already engaged in a substantial effort to conduct cyber attacks, espionage, sabotage, spying and kidnapping in the Baltic region. 

It’s possible Russia will increase these activities in retaliation.