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The Baltic countries in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are preparing to sabotage them and potential electronic attacks this weekend because they complement their long -awaited separation from the Russian authority network.
The Baltic countries separated from the “BRELL” energy -controlled energy network on Saturday, and is scheduled to complete their European electricity system on Sunday.
The BalTics network operators said on Saturday morning that the chapter was successful, as the Energy Minister of Lithuania Zigmanas Vikonas told a press conference, “The Baltic power system is in our hands – we are in control”, in comments It was reported by the Lithuanian broadcaster, LRT.
The dismissal is seen as a decisive way to ensure energy independence and security, and to dismantle the remains of the afternoon after the Soviet Union, which linked the Baltic states to Russia.
Gert Ovart, head of the Cyber Security Center in Estonia, told CNBC that the country was working closely with its cybersecurity’s neighbors to prepare for potential risk scenarios when a separation occurs.
“It has been completely planned, and experts assess the possibility of serious problems. However, Russia may try to use this period to create uncertainty,” he said in the comments on Thursday.
“Thanks to the strong national and international cooperation, Estonia is well prepared even in the worst scenarios-although this does not mean that these threats will be fulfilled.”
Whether Russia will allow the tremendous separation of Blts from BRELL – an acronym for Bearus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which indicates the approval of 2001 on the synchronization of their power networks – are not answered.
But the possibility of revenge on Russia is taken seriously by the Baltic energy ministries and operators of the transportation system such as EleRing, the state -owned network operator in Estonia.
“Full preparations, and we are ready to get rid of synchronization”, Kali Kelk, the head of the distress, He said in a statement ThursdayAnd describing the process as “a unique pledge in the modern history of energy, in terms of its scope and complexity.”
“Although the main technical changes are always involved in certain risks, we have strictly analyzed them and have developed appropriate action plans. With the planned transition, the electricity consumer should not notice any change.”
“What cannot be predicted one hundred percent, is the position in which energy is used as a weapon. So, what is dangerous is inseparable from Russia, because we were preparing for this for years, but continuing to communicate to the electricity system in Russia.”
CNBC from the Kremlin and Russian Energy Ministry asked to comment and awaits the response.
The countdown to “Energy Independence”
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the European Union in 2004, and the telephone communication changed nations with Russia indefinitely.
Since then, the states have looked at the alignment of their electricity networks with the rest of the European Union. Block provided More than 1.2 billion euros ($ 1.24 billion) of grants For synchronization, which is seen as a strategic priority.
Lithuanian Energy Minister Zivantas Vikonas (RL) speaks at the joint press conference of the Baltic Energy Ministers’ meeting with the Minister of Climate and Energy Casparency Casparins Milnes, Estonian Climate Minister Yuko Alander and state secretary at the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment, Christophe Paasta in January 2025.
Photo alliance Photo alliance Gety pictures
The sense of urgency about the separation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine accelerated in 2022, with the conflict that pushes fears between the former Soviet republics – including the Baltibin – which can also confront a similar Russian aggression in the future.
It also considered the use of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia the use of energy infrastructure in the Soviet era as a source of great insecurity, with fears that Russia could disrupt energy supply at the will.
The Baltic countries are seen as a “confrontation line” with Russia and its ally Belarus (Latvia has borders with both, Estonia’s borders on Russia while Lithuania shares limits with Belarus and the Russian rate in Kaliningrad) and their former Soviet situation. He made them a target of “hybrid” threat activities, starting from electronic attacks to suspicious destruction of power cables and communications under the Baltic Sea.
Estonia told CNBC that electronic attacks against Estonia increased in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“These ranged between the DDOS attacks that depend on the plants (distributed to the service refusal) to more advanced and targeted operations against government agencies and companies. While Estonia has become innovative in the face of these threats, the total risk level is still high. To determine whether the activity is The hostile cyberspace is linked to specific events or part of a wider strategy. “
The last chapter
With Baltics and Rusia survival remains intertwined despite the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the planned separation from Russia after more than 30 years is important and symbolic.
“The step taken by the three Baltic countries will be the culmination of multi -year efforts and euro milliliters to abolish the critical energy infrastructure of the Soviet era networks, which are seen as a source of insecurity,” Andrews Torsa, central, and Eastern European advisor in the risk consulting TENEO, said in Comments via email this week.
“Countries have strengthened material and cyber security for their energy systems in anticipation of the efforts of possible external turmoil during this symbolic and technically complex transition.”
The IPS/UPS transfer system is separated by the BRELL agreement on Saturday, starting from Lithuania and ends in Estonia. The network operator said that the Baltic cases will then lead to the reinforcement tests and its effort during the weekend “to assess procedural and technical measures for the Baltic cases to maintain their frequency and their ability to overcome independently.”
Kurzmes Loks on June 18, 2020 in Tukums, near Riga, Latvia. Latvia completed a new high -voltage power line to Estonia in late 2020, in another attempt to align electricity networks in Baltics with European Union neighbors instead of Russia.
Ivuskans AFP | Gety pictures
The synchronization process is completed on Sunday afternoon when the Baltic countries connect and their networks coincide with the European continental network, known as the simultaneous network in continental Europe or UCTE.
The Minister of Climate and Energy in Latvia, Kaspars Melnis, said that there are already attempts to spread misleading information about the transformation, saying: “In complex geopolitical conditions, it is true that society is more vulnerable, and as an appointment specified for the interruption of synchronization, the project approaches, and whenever we face misleading information,” said the Minister of Climate and Energy in Latvia, Kaspars Melnis.
He said in the comments, “Therefore, we urge the audience to deal with information critically, not to abandon any emotional charged statements, and not to share the news that has not been verified,” he said in the comments. It was posted on Latvian Grid Operator AST.
He added that the synchronization of the rest of the continent was very important for BalTics, and “aims to ensure that we can maintain and control the network, and ensure stability, and therefore we do not rely on the behavior of our neighbors.”
There is a clear comfort about the next synchronization between the Baltic power operators; The AST network operator is characterized by the countdown to energy independence “Baltic solution” On its website.
