Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday mysterious explosions — which have damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea — were a result of "deliberate actions" by unknown perpetrators..Explosions rattled the Baltic Sea before unusual leaks were discovered on two natural gas pipelines running underwater from Russia to Germany, seismologists told media outlets. And while other European leaders and experts pointed to possible sabotage amid an energy standoff with Russia (provoked by its war in Ukraine,) the New York Times reported according to three senior officials familiar with the matter, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) issued a warning in June to a number of European nations, including Germany, that the two gas pipelines could be targeted in forthcoming attacks..The warning was not specific, the officials said, and they declined to say whether Russia itself was identified as a possible attacker, The New York Times reported. American officials said that while it appeared likely the damage to the pipelines was the result of sabotage, they had reached no conclusion about who might have been responsible..The New York Times reported both pipelines suffered a sudden loss of pressure and released gas into the sea, and cited European officials saying the chances both suffered accidents nearly simultaneously seem low..The German publication Der Spiegel was the first to report the US provided what intelligence officials call “strategic warning” of a possible attack..Meanwhile, the Biden administration was careful not to blame Moscow or anyone else. According to White House officials, the pipelines were not actively pumping gas into Europe when the pressure loss occurred..The older pipeline, Nord Stream 1, has not moved gas into Europe for weeks, with the Russians claiming they needed to do maintenance and repair work. That was widely seen in Europe as a warning that President Vladimir Putin could turn gas off as winter approaches, depending on whether Europe abandons the Western-led sanctions, The New York Times reported. The newer pipeline, Nord Stream 2, has never been operational and Germany said it was canceling its part of the project shortly after the invasion..However, natural gas still fills the lines. Experts say it is almost entirely methane, which partially dissolves in water and is not toxic. The first explosion was recorded early Monday southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm, said Bjorn Lund, director of the Swedish National Seismic Network, CBC News reported. A second, stronger blast northeast of the island that night was equivalent to a magnitude-2.3 earthquake. Seismic stations in Denmark, Norway and Finland also registered the explosions.."There's no doubt, this is not an earthquake," Lund said.. Map NordstreamThe Nordstream pipeline system .Asked who could be responsible for the leaks, Frederiksen said "there is no information indicating who could be behind it.".In a strange media report, FOX television host Tucker Carlson highlighted an odd statement from US President Biden earlier this year, suggesting someone "put an end to" the Nordstream pipelines. While the allegation is a bit of a stretch, it is well known the US urged the EU to alleviate itself of its dependence on Russian oil and gas.."If Russia invades, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it," Biden said on February 7..Asked how he would do that, Biden responded: "I promise you, we will be able to do that.".Following the incident, Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said "the era of Russian domination in the gas sphere is coming to an end," calling it "an era that was marked by blackmail, threats and extortion." .Morawiecki characterized the events as "an act of sabotage.".NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said the leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines were the result of sabotage.."Discussed the sabotage on the NorthStream pipelines with Defence Minister Morten Bødskov," said Jens Stoltenberg on Twitter. "We addressed the protection of critical infrastructure in NATO countries.".After the leaks were reported, Ukraine accused Russia of damaging the pipeline, saying the alleged actions amount to “nothing more than a terrorist attack,” Al Jazeera reported..The Kremlin, for its part, hotly denied the accusation, Forbes magazine reported..“It’s quite predictable and also predictably stupid to give voice to these kinds of narratives,” said President Vladamir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov..“Both branches were filled with gas, ready for pumping, and this gas is very expensive,” said Peskov. “Now this gas is disappearing into the air.”.It also remains possible, even if unlikely, that no sabotage was involved and a pure accident caused the leak.. Gas bubbleMethane surfaces from a ruptured Nordstream pipeline. .Some experts believe Russia could have restricted natural gas flows like it did earlier this month, using an oil leak as the excuse. Blowing up the pipelines, which cost over US$20 billion and are the only direct means Russia has for exporting gas to Germany, would have been unnecessary, Forbes magazine reported..And President Putin made no secret of his desire to continue supplying Europe with natural gas..Meanwhile, the EU on Wednesday rushed to ramp up security to safeguard the bloc’s energy infrastructure in response to the damage, while warning of a “robust and united response” in case of further attacks, Al Jazeera reported..Nord Stream AG said it was impossible to estimate when the gas network system's working capability would be restored, CBC News reported..And while the exact cause of the explosion may never be known, further speculation and accusations could go on for months, even years.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday mysterious explosions — which have damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea — were a result of "deliberate actions" by unknown perpetrators..Explosions rattled the Baltic Sea before unusual leaks were discovered on two natural gas pipelines running underwater from Russia to Germany, seismologists told media outlets. And while other European leaders and experts pointed to possible sabotage amid an energy standoff with Russia (provoked by its war in Ukraine,) the New York Times reported according to three senior officials familiar with the matter, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) issued a warning in June to a number of European nations, including Germany, that the two gas pipelines could be targeted in forthcoming attacks..The warning was not specific, the officials said, and they declined to say whether Russia itself was identified as a possible attacker, The New York Times reported. American officials said that while it appeared likely the damage to the pipelines was the result of sabotage, they had reached no conclusion about who might have been responsible..The New York Times reported both pipelines suffered a sudden loss of pressure and released gas into the sea, and cited European officials saying the chances both suffered accidents nearly simultaneously seem low..The German publication Der Spiegel was the first to report the US provided what intelligence officials call “strategic warning” of a possible attack..Meanwhile, the Biden administration was careful not to blame Moscow or anyone else. According to White House officials, the pipelines were not actively pumping gas into Europe when the pressure loss occurred..The older pipeline, Nord Stream 1, has not moved gas into Europe for weeks, with the Russians claiming they needed to do maintenance and repair work. That was widely seen in Europe as a warning that President Vladimir Putin could turn gas off as winter approaches, depending on whether Europe abandons the Western-led sanctions, The New York Times reported. The newer pipeline, Nord Stream 2, has never been operational and Germany said it was canceling its part of the project shortly after the invasion..However, natural gas still fills the lines. Experts say it is almost entirely methane, which partially dissolves in water and is not toxic. The first explosion was recorded early Monday southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm, said Bjorn Lund, director of the Swedish National Seismic Network, CBC News reported. A second, stronger blast northeast of the island that night was equivalent to a magnitude-2.3 earthquake. Seismic stations in Denmark, Norway and Finland also registered the explosions.."There's no doubt, this is not an earthquake," Lund said.. Map NordstreamThe Nordstream pipeline system .Asked who could be responsible for the leaks, Frederiksen said "there is no information indicating who could be behind it.".In a strange media report, FOX television host Tucker Carlson highlighted an odd statement from US President Biden earlier this year, suggesting someone "put an end to" the Nordstream pipelines. While the allegation is a bit of a stretch, it is well known the US urged the EU to alleviate itself of its dependence on Russian oil and gas.."If Russia invades, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it," Biden said on February 7..Asked how he would do that, Biden responded: "I promise you, we will be able to do that.".Following the incident, Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said "the era of Russian domination in the gas sphere is coming to an end," calling it "an era that was marked by blackmail, threats and extortion." .Morawiecki characterized the events as "an act of sabotage.".NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said the leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines were the result of sabotage.."Discussed the sabotage on the NorthStream pipelines with Defence Minister Morten Bødskov," said Jens Stoltenberg on Twitter. "We addressed the protection of critical infrastructure in NATO countries.".After the leaks were reported, Ukraine accused Russia of damaging the pipeline, saying the alleged actions amount to “nothing more than a terrorist attack,” Al Jazeera reported..The Kremlin, for its part, hotly denied the accusation, Forbes magazine reported..“It’s quite predictable and also predictably stupid to give voice to these kinds of narratives,” said President Vladamir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov..“Both branches were filled with gas, ready for pumping, and this gas is very expensive,” said Peskov. “Now this gas is disappearing into the air.”.It also remains possible, even if unlikely, that no sabotage was involved and a pure accident caused the leak.. Gas bubbleMethane surfaces from a ruptured Nordstream pipeline. .Some experts believe Russia could have restricted natural gas flows like it did earlier this month, using an oil leak as the excuse. Blowing up the pipelines, which cost over US$20 billion and are the only direct means Russia has for exporting gas to Germany, would have been unnecessary, Forbes magazine reported..And President Putin made no secret of his desire to continue supplying Europe with natural gas..Meanwhile, the EU on Wednesday rushed to ramp up security to safeguard the bloc’s energy infrastructure in response to the damage, while warning of a “robust and united response” in case of further attacks, Al Jazeera reported..Nord Stream AG said it was impossible to estimate when the gas network system's working capability would be restored, CBC News reported..And while the exact cause of the explosion may never be known, further speculation and accusations could go on for months, even years.
