VILNIUS — Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia officially disconnected from a shared energy system with Russia and Belarus on Saturday.

The BRELL (Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) system was established after the Soviet Union’s dissolution to ensure a stable power supply among its former republics.

However, as sovereign nations, the Baltic states pursued a pro-European course, gradually distancing themselves from Russia and Belarus, including in the energy sector.

In 2018, the three Baltic countries signed an agreement with the European Commission to synchronize their power grids with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

The transition to the European grid will occur in two phases. On Saturday, the Baltic states disconnected from the Russian and Belarusian networks and will operate independently for 24 hours. If no technical issues arise, they will integrate into the European system on Sunday.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the Baltic nations had made this decision independently, noting that potential technical difficulties and economic consequences were yet to be fully assessed.

Experts suggest that the shift may lead to higher energy costs for Baltic consumers, as Russia, with its vast energy resources, had previously offered lower tariffs.

The disconnection also affected Russia’s Kaliningrad region, which relied on electricity transmission through Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. However, Russian authorities have built new energy-generating facilities to mitigate the impact.

Meanwhile, Belarusian officials downplayed the move’s significance, stating that it would not affect the country’s energy supply and calling the decision politically motivated. — Agencies