After leaving the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, we have been preparing to join the EU network for more than 30 years from the Russian electric grid and join the EU network.
The two -day process begins on Saturday, and residents instruct them to charge the device, to stock up food and water, and prepare as if the weather is predicted.
Many people have heard not to use the lift. In some areas, traffic lights are turned off.
The huge special clock calculates the last early early before switching from the landmark event held at the Lithuanian capital on Sunday, attended by the EU Ursula von der Leyen.
Then three countries will officially shift from the so -called Brell Power Grid connected to Russia and Belarus after World War II.
Bellarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Brell Grid, were almost entirely controlled by Russia and have long been considered vulnerabilities for the former Soviet Republic and are currently NATO member states.
After removing this, the three countries operate in the “isolated mode” for about 24 hours, surviving only with their own power for about 24 hours before integrating into European grid through Poland.
Saturday morning, Lithuania said that Latvia and Estonia were separated from Russian grids, anticipating that they would soon follow.
Lithuania’s Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said in an AFP news agency, “We are now eliminating the ability to use the electricity system as a designated academic threat tool.
Professor David Smith of the Baltic Research Department at the University of Glasgow said to the BBC, “It is the peak of efforts to reduce energy dependence for more than 10 or 20 years.
Smith said, “When the Baltic Nation joined the EU and NATO, we talked about energy islands that still depend on the joint electric network between Belarus and Russia.” “Now it’s completely broken.”
In February 2022, after a full -fledged invasion of Ukraine in Russia, the tension between the state and Russia surged, with a combination of 543 miles (874 km) borders.
Since then, the Baltic Sea’s electric cables and suspected destroying acts related to the pipeline have triggered the fear that Moscow can retaliate against the transition to EU energy.
In the last 18 months, at least 11 cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea. In the recent case Russia’s ships of “Shadow Fleet” oil tankers were accused of damaging Estonia’s major power links. In Finland. Kremlin refused to comment.
NATO did not blame Russia, but responded by starting a new patrol mission in a region called Baltic Sentry.
“We can’t rule out any kind of provocation,” said Latvia, President Rinkēvičs.
Evika Silina, Prime Minister Latvia, said, “There is certainly dangerous. We understand well. ” “But the risk is confirmed and there is an emergency plan.”
In recent months, the spokesman for the NATO ENERGY Security Center of Excellence told the BBC News.
GERT AUVAART, Estonia’s cyber security center, told the BBC News that “Russia can try to use this period to create uncertainty,” but Estonia said, “It was well adjusted in the worst case. Case scenario “.
He added that cyber attacks on the country have surged due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and he added that it ranges from hackingist -based DDOS attacks (denial of distributed services) to more sophisticated and targeted operations of government agencies and businesses.
The Baltic Sea State will also monitor the wrong information campaign related to the transition.
Immediately after they notified Russia about the decision to withdraw from Brel in August 2024, information campaigns for social media that significantly warns of supply failures and prices in order for the state to leave the joint power grid appeared.
