There are many ideas on who or what caused the enormous leaks that abruptly erupted from the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines that transport gas from Russia to Europe over the Baltic Sea, but there are few definitive answers.
Although they have declined to name anyone, European Union member states have stated that they suspect sabotage was responsible for the damage. The International Energy Agency’s executive director, Fatih Birol, claimed that the person responsible was “quite clear,” although he did not identify them.
Allegations that Russia was to blame were labelled “foolish” by the Kremlin. Russian authorities claimed that Washington was motivated by a desire to increase LNG sales to Europe.
President Vladimir Putin called the incident “unprecedented sabotage” and a “act of international terrorism,” while Sergei Naryshkin, the head of the Russian intelligence service, claimed the West was covering up the perpetrators by “all means possible.”
Accusations that the White House was behind the incident were refuted.
According to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, it is still too early to accuse anyone and a thorough investigation is required. He stated, “I think there is a lot of speculation at this moment regarding the attack or damage to the pipeline.
The region is extremely sensitive to Europe’s energy security since, in addition to Nord Stream, a new pipeline has been constructed between Norway and Poland, which is attempting to reduce its reliance on Russian energy.
According to Kristin Berzina, a security and defence specialist with the German Marshall Fund, “They (Russia) can terrify the Europeans by committing an act of sabotage because if they were able to blow up these lines at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, they would have done so on the new line.”
If it was sabotage, it cost billions of euros to construct two pipelines that were built by Kremlin-controlled Gazprom and its European partners.
Analysts claim that even if the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines are not pumping when the breaches are found, the damage also implies that Russia may lose some of its influence in Europe, which has been pressed for time to secure a new gas supply for the winter.
Whoever is to blame, Ukraine may potentially gain from the situation. Kyiv has long demanded that Europe suspend all purchases of Russian fuel, despite the fact that some gas still enters Europe through its territory, and the Nord Stream disruption only strengthens Kyiv’s demand. getting close to getting a reply.
Seismologists in Denmark and Sweden reported that they saw two large explosions on Monday near the leaks, and that the explosions occurred in the ocean rather than on the seabed.
The attack may have been planned and remotely detonated using underwater mines or other explosives, a British defence source told Sky News.
According to intelligence analyst Oliver Alexander, “Something large triggered the explosions, which suggests Russia can do it,” he told Reuters. The United States could theoretically do that as well, but I don’t really see a reason for it.
He continued, “The United States has long urged Europe to stop relying on Russian gas, but Washington lacks a compelling reason to act at this time given that Nord Stream was not pumping gas to Europe at the time of the leaks’ discovery, despite the fact that the two pipelines contained pressurised gas.
They actually were able to derail Nord Stream 2,” he said. He wasn’t actually moving or doing anything in the water.
Analysts claim that while gadgets on the commercial market may have contributed to the damage, given its scope and precision, it is more likely that a person with access to more advanced technology was responsible.
Russia affirms its conviction that the sabotage was carried out by a government agent.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, “it is quite difficult to conceive that such a terrorist attack could have occurred without the assistance of a state.”
“This is a really severe matter that has to be looked into right away.
According to three different sources cited by CNN, European security agencies had spotted Russian naval support ships and submarines close to the Nord Stream leaks. Peskov responded that there was a higher NATO presence in the area when questioned about this story.
A more direct exchange of accusations between Russia and the West at this time could worsen already growing tensions, according to Marek Swerczynski, a defence analyst at the Polish think tank Politika Insight.
sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. Who is in charge and why?
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