Ukraine accuses Russia of causing gas pipeline leaks to Europe in a “terrorist attack.”
The damage to Nord Stream 1 and 2 was “an act of aggression” against the EU, according to Mykhaylo Podolyak, later he said Russia wanted to cause pre-winter panic and urged the EU to support Ukraine militarily. Before the leaks, seismologists detected underwater explosions.
“There is no doubt that these were explosions,” said Bjorn Lund of Sweden’s National Seismology Center, as quoted by local media, on Monday afternoon, Nord Stream 2 operators reported a loss of pressure and Danish authorities warned ships to avoid Bornholm’s area.
Nord Stream 1’s operator said the undersea lines suffered “unprecedented” damage in one day.
Danish Defense Command released footage of the leaks showing bubbles in the Baltic Sea near the island.
The largest sea disturbance measures 1km (0.6 miles). “Gas leak from NS-1 [Nord Stream 1] is nothing more than a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards the EU. Russia wants to destabilize the economic situation in Europe and cause pre-winter panic,” Ukraine’s Mr. Podolyak tweeted.
He urged European partners, especially Germany, to boost military aid to Ukraine.
“Ukraine needs tanks for security” Germans saying Other European leaders believe the pipelines were intentionally damaged, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki blamed sabotage and linked it to the Ukraine war, Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s prime minister, said it was too early to draw conclusions, but the multiple leaks were unlikely to be a coincidence.
German media reported unconfirmed reports of a possible attack on the undersea gas network, A Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said he was “extremely concerned” about the incident, and the possibility of a deliberate attack could not be ruled out.
The EU has accused Russia of reducing gas supplies as an economic weapon in response to sanctions imposed for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow denies this, saying sanctions make gas infrastructure maintenance impossible.
Map of the Russian-German Nord Stream pipelines, Whatever caused the damage, neither pipeline was operational so that it won’t affect gas supply to Europe & Since Russia shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in August for maintenance, no gas has been transported. It runs from the Russian coast near St. Petersburg to northeastern Germany. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 was halted, Both inactive pipelines contain gas.
Germany, Denmark, and Sweden are investigating.
The Danish energy authority told Reuters the leak could last days or weeks, Nord Stream AG said it was impossible to predict when the pipeline’s infrastructure would be restored & Since Russia invaded Ukraine, energy prices have soared and could rise further. Families in the EU may not be able to afford to heat this winter.
Poland is leading the effort to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russia with a new gas pipeline and the Baltic Pipe will link Norwegian gas to Europe, allowing Slovakia and the Czech Republic to access it.
