Lithuania to fortify new border substation against drone attacks amid Russian tensions
Lithuania plans a heavily reinforced substation near the Kaliningrad border, adding drone-defense measures as security worries rise.
Lithuania is moving ahead with the Gizai substation, a key node of the Harmony Link interconnection that will link the Baltic electricity network to the wider European grid. Located roughly 30 km west of Kaliningrad, the facility will be surrounded by reinforced fencing capable of stopping a truck bomb, equipped with sensors to detect underground tunnels, and will house transformers inside concrete sarcophagi designed to survive Shahed-type drones carrying up to 100 kg of explosives.
Litgrid chief Andrius Semeskevicius explained that the design now addresses hybrid threats after recent sabotage incidents in Germany and fears of a false-flag drone attack. The site spans 35 hectares, with redundant equipment to keep power flowing even if part of the station is damaged. Lithuania’s energy minister Lukas Savickas intends to ask the EU to fund at least half of the additional €48 million security cost, while Poland’s deputy energy minister Wojciech Wrochna warned that the financial burden should be shared among EU partners.
Why it matters
Securing the substation helps ensure reliable electricity for the Baltic states and reduces vulnerability to Russian-linked drone attacks.
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