Lithuania plans key substation near Russia, fortified against explosive drones
Lithuania says the project will add reinforced concrete, tunnel sensors and duplicate equipment to protect a key grid link from sabotage.
- Lithuania is planning drone defenses at the Gizai substation, a crucial node in the Harmony Link connecting Baltic grids to Europe. Located 30 km from Kaliningrad, the facility will feature hardened fencing and concrete 'sarcophagi' for transformers to withstand potential drone strikes.
- Litgrid CEO Andrius Semeskevicius said the design addresses a 'new reality,' protecting against multiple Shahed drones carrying 100 kilograms of explosives. The 35-hectare site spreads equipment to limit damage from hits, while custom-made concrete provides reinforced resistance against attacks.
- Intelligence sources warn Russia could target the region with false flag attacks to test NATO unity, causing rising sabotage concerns near the Suwalki Gap. Tensions increased this month after Berlin blamed Moscow for sabotage attacks against Germany's electricity grid.
- Energy Minister Lukas Savickas said Lithuania will seek EU funding for the Gizai substation, which costs at least €48 million more than planned. Poland's deputy energy minister Wojciech Wrochna urged the European Union to boost financing.
- Last year, the Baltic states and Poland requested €382 million for grid security but received only €112 million from the European Union. Officials warn this interconnection is a vital lifeline for power stability, and countries risk losing competitiveness by shouldering these costs alone.
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The target will appear 30 kilometres from Kaliningrad province.
Excavation protection and sarcophagi for transformers will make the construction of the Gizai power substation in Lithuania at least €48 million more expensive, according to local electricity transmission system operator L..
Excavation protection and sarcophagi for transformers will make the construction of the Gizai power substation in Lithuania at least €48 million more expensive, according to local electricity transmission system operator Litgrid. "If the...
Lithuania, a member of NATO, shares a land border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. "We are considering several scenarios, not all publicly discussed" said Prime Minister Sinkevičius at the BBC.
Lithuania has plans to evacuate the population in the event of a possible attack by Russia, while Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkjavicyus has stated that the country does not intend to give up.
Sinkevičius told BBC Newsnight that Lithuanians feel "constantly threatened" by Moscow, but that the nation is ready to "hit back" if attacked.
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