Baltic States celebrated energy independence from Russia and are now freezing.

The residents of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are now paying hundreds of euros each month just to heat their modest apartments. Even government buildings are cold. Rhod Mackenzie looks at how this is the price the Baltic states are paying for stopping their purchases of Russian gas and leaving the BRELL electricity grid.

The local media is full of reports of widespread panic in all three Baltic republics. In Lithuania media outlets have expressed concerns that the cost of living in January poses significant challenges for low-income residents. According to recent statistics, 18% of the country’s population is unable to maintain adequate heating in their homes