European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in Vilnius on Sunday that Russia is targeting European infrastructure and testing its defenses.
“Russia targets European infrastructure, testing our defenses, spreading chaos and fear. And once again, the Baltic states lead by example. You have invested heavily in the cybersecurity of your grids. You are constantly strengthening them. This is how we must think across Europe,” she said at a ceremony marking the synchronization of the Baltic electricity grids with Western Europe.
At least 11 submarine cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged since October 2023.
While operators say damage to underwater cables is relatively common, the number and concentration of recent incidents in the Baltic Sea have raised suspicions that some were intentional and linked to Russia.
Von der Leyen stated that the EU “must move from reacting to preparing.”
“Closer coordination between Member States. Better protection of critical infrastructure. Readiness across government and society to defend our European way of life. The Baltic synchronization makes us stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the future,” she said.
On Saturday, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia successfully decoupled from the Soviet-era, Russian-controlled electricity system (IPS/UPS) and began operating in isolated mode. At 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, they connected to the Continental European grid.
“Synchronization with the continent will help integrate renewable energy into your grids. This is not only good for the climate; it also enhances energy security and independence, creates jobs at home, and strengthens our competitiveness,” von der Leyen said.
The European Commission president emphasized that “a strong economy needs cheap, stable, and reliable power,” adding that the Baltic nations “are leading this transformation.”
“You are investing in solar and offshore wind. You are building smart grids. You are proving that energy independence and clean energy go hand in hand,” she said.
With synchronous operation alongside Western Europe, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will now manage the frequency of their power grids independently while coordinating with other countries within the UCTE.
When the Baltics were part of the Russian IPS/UPS system, their grid frequency was centrally regulated from Moscow.
In addition to the LitPol Link, an onshore electricity connection between Lithuania and Poland used for synchronization, the Baltic countries are also connected to Northern Europe through the NordBalt maritime link between Lithuania and Sweden, as well as the EstLink 1 and EstLink 2 maritime links between Estonia and Finland.
Another onshore cable between Lithuania and Poland, the Harmony Link, is scheduled to be completed by 2030 and will be used for electricity trade.
Source: BNS
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