Baltic states regain energy autonomy to counter Russian threat

They disconnected power to the same line also from their side, with the biggest surprise today being that there are no surprises,

AST CEO Rolands Irklis told AFP

Žygimantas Vaičiūnasenergy Minister

We have removed any theoretical possibility of Russia using energy (grid) control as a weapon,

Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas told AFP on Saturday

I like the light better when there's no Russian electrons involved,

he told reporters in Estonian capital Tallinn

Now we have complete control over our power grid,

Latvian Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis told reporters while holding a piece of the dismantled wire

It's important to underline that this is about security... No European country should be dependent on Russia for anything,

he added

Dan Jørgensenenergy Commissioner

This is indeed a historic day."

The European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jorgensen, said

We are safe because we have disconnected from the Russian grid,

Nerijus Cesiulis, mayor of the southern Lithuanian city of Alytus, told AFP

Such steps deprive the aggressor of the opportunity to use the electricity sector for blackmail and political games,

he said Saturday

Evika Siliņalatvian Prime Minister

This is the largest and most important project to ensure energy independence and regional security in recent decades. And we've accomplished it a year ahead of schedule,

Siliņa said

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,

the Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said

We will never use it again. We are moving on,

Latvia’s energy minister, Kaspars Melnis, said

A stronger, more resilient energy future is now in our hands. This morning, Lithuania, together with Latvia and Estonia, took a major step towards energy independence by disconnecting from the Russia-controlled electricity grid. This move strengthens our energy security, deepens integration with Europe and ensures a stable, reliable power supply

Quote from Gintautas Paluckas

The Baltic energy system is finally in our hands, we are in full control,

Lithuania Energy minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas told reporters

We have a protocol with the Russians on how everything should be disconnected,

Rokas Masiulis, CEO of Litgrid, told reporters on Saturday

We have taken all measures to ensure the uninterrupted reliable operation of our unified energy system."

Asked about the cut-off last week, he said

Gitanas Nausėdalithuanian President

People won't feel it, either in terms of their bills or any inconvenience."

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda was sure the switch would go smoothly, telling reporters

I can confirm that Lithuania's electricity exchange lines with Kaliningrad and Belarus were disconnected at 07:43

local time (05:43 GMT), ... Litgrid spokesman Matas Noreika told AFP

We have been waiting for this moment for a long time,

he told reporters, after speaking with his Estonian and Latvian counterparts

The system is stable, the process is happening smoothly, no one is noticing that something changed,

Latvian Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis told Reuters news agency

Everything proceeded as planned and on schedule. We signed a protocol with the Russians outlining the disconnection process. In fact, just minutes before, the Russians themselves contacted us to confirm they were ready."

Quote from Masiulis