Defense League to monitor infrastructure during electricity desynchronization

The government plans to involve members of the Estonian Defense League (KL) alongside the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) to carry out security tasks during the desynchronization of the power grid next month, Minister of Interior Lauri Läänemets (SDE) said.
On the second weekend of February, the Baltic power grid will be disconnected from the Russian grid and connected to the Central European frequency band.
"This operation, which the PPA will conduct during the desynchronization period, will also require the participation of the KL," Läänemets told ERR.
Less than 100 KL members will be called up.
Läänemets said Estonia's power grid will be most vulnerable during the desynchronization process.
"Although we have taken many preparatory measures, you can never be certain. The Ministry of the Interior's approach is that it's better to be overprepared to ensure that nothing happens," he said on Tuesday.
The plan still requires approval from both the government and the president.

"Last week, I designated temporary national defense objects, specifically energy infrastructure facilities," Läänemets said.
"Key facilities have now been declared temporary national defense objects, and during the desynchronization period, we have planned manned security for certain locations."
The minister did not disclose how long the KL members would be deployed for security tasks.
"We will announce the duration once the government has reached a final decision," he said, but indicated that the period would be longer than a few days.
"Regarding these temporary national defense objects, we will assess the situation after synchronization to decide whether to extend their temporary designation or not, until they become permanent national defense objects. However, this does not necessarily require manned security. The manned security is specifically for the desynchronization period," Läänemets added.
The Estonian Defense League is a voluntary national defense organization overseen by the Ministry of Defense.
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Editor: Indrek Kiisler, Valner Väino, Helen Wright