Estonia moves to shut Russian-used gas pipeline feeding Kaliningrad

Estonia is keeping operational a 22-kilometre gas pipeline segment that traverses Võru County, allowing Russia to use it as a backup conduit for supplying its Kaliningrad Oblast. The double-pipe line, each 70 cm in diameter, is owned by the state transmission operator Elering and connects Russia to Latvia and then Lithuania. In July 2023, about half a terawatt-hour of Russian gas passed through the Estonian section, roughly 15 % of Estonia's annual consumption, with a similar amount recorded in fall 2024.

Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced plans to start decommissioning the line and instructed Energy Minister Erkki Keldo to reach a deal with Latvia, where the shut-off valve is located, to prevent future transit; otherwise Estonia may impose national sanctions. Keldo warned that Russia could exploit a closure for information warfare, noting that any agreement with Latvia might only be possible after its new government takes office. Although the pipeline currently carries no gas to Kaliningrad, Russia retains the right to reserve capacity, and Estonia has banned Russian gas imports since fall 2022.