Lithuania intends to disconnect its energy grid from Russia’s to test its ability to cut off the last energy link it has with Moscow, according to Bloomberg, quoted by Agerpres.

The electricity grid operator Litgrid AB will conduct this test on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., during which all connections to the Russian power grid will be completely interrupted.

Electricity will be supplied to the Lithuanian grid from domestic sources, as well as through imports from Sweden and Poland. Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia, has focused on reducing energy dependence on Moscow by seeking alternative sources of oil, gas and electricity supplies.

Although the Baltic states have stopped importing Russian fossil fuels since last April, the three countries still rely on their larger neighbor to maintain the stability of the electricity system.

“For the first time in history, the electric power system of Lithuania will work completely independently, so we are responsibly preparing for this test and will be ready for all scenarios. Consumers will not be aware of this test,” said Rokas Masulis, CEO of Litgrid.

The Baltic country will receive assistance from EU investments in the amount of more than one billion euros.

Officials in Vilnius intended to disconnect from the Russian grid in 2025, but if the tests are successful, it is possible that the disconnection will happen as early as next year, Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kraivis said.

of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova has connected to the EU electricity grid

To completely disconnect the power lines, synchronization with continental Europe must be done together with Latvia and Estonia, even if these two countries say they need more time to prepare for this transition.

In addition, the test of Lithuania would also mean the isolation of the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave in the Baltic Sea. Utility company Inter Rao has expanded its energy facilities in Kaliningrad to be able to operate independently of Lithuania.

Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova were successfully connected to the European electricity grid last March, less than a month after the Russian invasion began.

“Ukraine has become a member of the European Energy Union,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter at the time, adding that “from now on, Ukrainian electricity circulates in the European Union (EU) and vice versa.”

Ukraine was synchronized with Russia’s power grid before the February 24 invasion and operated autonomously thereafter.

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