Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are still connected to Russia's electricity grid, but that's going to change soon in another sign of their confidence in the EU. With the move they turn the page on their Soviet past.

The severing of electricity ties to oil- and gas-rich Russia and switching to European grids is steeped in geopolitical and symbolic significance.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will flip the switch on Feb. 9, disconnecting themselves from a regional electricity grid known as BRELL, and will switch to a European Union regional network instead. The move has been years in the making — but now that the time has come, security officials are bracing for retaliation from Moscow.

In transition away from Russia's power grid, the Baltics will take Kaliningrad out of the mega-grid controlled by the Kremlin.

During the Soviet era, the Baltic states' electricity systems were integrated into the IPS/UPS grid, managed centrally by Moscow. This arrangement persisted even after the countries regained independence,

The Baltic nations have announced plans to disconnect from the Russian-controlled power grid in February 2025, marking a move toward energy independence.

Screen indicates that on February 8 the Baltic States will disconnect from the Russian electricity grid in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.