European Officials Fortify Power Infrastructure Against Potential Russian Sabotage

European officials are taking seriously the risk of a major blackout as tensions with Russia escalate, with critical power infrastructure being fortified against potential sabotage. The Alytus transformer station in southern Lithuania, surrounded by sandbags, concrete blocks, and barbed wire, now resembles a besieged fortress, serving as a key technical hub for the country's electricity grid. Litgrid, the state-owned operator of the national grid, views the facility as a prime target for any type of attack, according to Arturas Kuliesas, director of a program dedicated to protecting grid infrastructure, during a visit organized by the European Commission.

The Alytus center is central to Lithuania's strategy to break free from Moscow's influence, connecting the country's high-voltage power lines with those from Poland. Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia, unplugged from the Russian grid in February 2025 to synchronize with the European network, a €1.65 billion project funded three-quarters by the European Union, which took place without incident.