Three Baltic states have cut ties with Russia’s power grid to join the European Union’s network in “a victory for freedom.”

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – all former Soviet republics now in the European Union and Nato – had wanted to block Russia’s ability to geopolitically blackmail them via the electricity system.

Zygimantas Vaiciunas, Lithuania’s energy minister, told AFP on Saturday: “We have removed any theoretical possibility of Russia using energy [grid] control as a weapon.”

Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief and Estonia’s former prime minister, hailed the grid switch as “a victory for freedom and European unity”.

Mr Vaiciunas said the Baltic states had completed the disconnection process at 9.09 local time (07.09 GMT) on Saturday.

“We have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” he told reporters, after speaking with his Estonian and Latvian counterparts.

“The energy system of the Baltic states is finally in our own hands. We are in control,” he added of the “historic” moment.

Authorities on guard

Official celebrations are planned across the Baltics. Authorities are on guard for any potential cyber-attacks linked to the grid switch.

Latvia will physically cut a power line to Russia later today and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, is expected to attend a ceremony with Baltic leaders in Vilnius on Sunday.

The Baltics have long prepared to integrate with the European grid but they have faced technological and financial issues.

The switch became more urgent after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, which spooked the Baltic states into thinking that they could be targeted.

They stopped purchasing Russian gas and electricity after the invasion but their power grids remained connected to Russia and Belarus, controlled from Moscow.

This left them dependent on Moscow for a stable electricity flow, which is crucial for factories and facilities requiring a reliable power supply.