RUSSIA has suspended electricity supplies to Finland overnight after RAO Nordic threatened to cut off supplies over payment arrears, said a grid operator official today.

“It is at zero at the moment, and that started from midnight as planned,” said Fingrid operational planning manager Timo Kaukonen.

RAO Nordic yesterday said it will suspend supplies, citing problems with payments, as Helsinki prepares to announce its application for Nato membership in the wake of the Ukraine war.

But the shortfall is being made up by imports from Sweden. Finland imports about 10% of its power from Russia.

RAO Nordic said it has not been paid for electricity since May 6, but has not spelt out if this is linked to European sanctions against Russia.

Russia’s February 24 invasion has swung political and public opinion in Finland and Sweden in favour of Nato membership as a deterrent against Russian aggression.

Both countries have long cooperated with the Western military alliance and are expected to be able to join it quickly.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly said they will be welcomed “with open arms”. – AFP, May 14, 2022.