They are to join the European network on Sunday. This step will relieve Russia for geopolitical blackmail, the countries said.
The Baltic States began to be disconnected from the Moscow of the controlled electricity network on Saturday after 05.00. This was stated for the AFP spokesman Lithuanian state -owned Litgrid power operator, TASR writes.
“I can confirm that the disconnection process has started at 06.00 (local time),” said Litgrid spokesman Matas Noreika shortly after Lithuania turned off its electrical connection with Belarus and Russia.
Lithuania disconnected from the electricity network controlled by Moscow was the first of three Baltic countries. Estonia and Latvia should follow until 08.00 CET on Saturday, said Noreika. After disconnecting from the Russian network, the three bald countries of the country will operate for approximately 24 hours in the so -called “isolated mode” to test the frequency of their networks and power levels. Connection to the European network is scheduled on Sunday.
They get rid of blackmail
“We are now eliminating the ability of Russia to use the electrical system as a tool of geopolitical blackmail,” said Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas for AFP.
Three Baltic States of the Soviet Red Army occupied in 1940 after the Communist Soviet Union and Nazi Germany divided Europe into a sphere of influence. Their declaration of independence in 1990 started the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In 2004 they became members of NATO and the European Union. They have been preparing for a long -term connection to the European electricity network, but faced technological and financial problems. This was accelerated by Moscow’s aggression against Kiev and after February 26, 2022, a full -format Russian war in Ukraine. The Baltic States fear that they could be another goal of Moscow. The local authorities said they were leaving the Russian electricity network to prevent Moscow from using it against them as a weapon.
