The Russian gas pipelines Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 could have been attacked, including by submarines or specially trained divers. This version of the accident on the main gas route from Russia to Europe is given by the German publication Der Tagesspiegel, citing sources close to the investigation of the incident.
Officially, representatives of the German authorities do not give details about the incident, insisting on insufficient information and the need to sink to the bottom to find out the details. However, the sources of the publication say they do not believe in a coincidence that two gas pipelines were affected at once and are already working on two versions. The first one was “pro-Ukrainian forces” that could blow up pipelines. The source notes that in this case, Russia will have no choice but to supply gas via routes through Poland and Ukraine. The second version is a “Russian operation under a false flag” with the same meaning.
“We cannot imagine a scenario that is not a targeted attack. Everything speaks against the coincidence, ”said a source familiar with the versions within the German government.
The source also notes that conducting such an operation is an extremely difficult task, which was probably attended by special forces or a submarine. As a result of the incident, one string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was damaged (which became known on the same day, September 26), later pressure dropped in both strings of Nord Stream – thus, three of the four pipes that come from Russia to Europe, were damaged. Gas pipelines pass near the Danish island of Bornholm at a depth of about 100 meters, local authorities on Monday recorded a gas leak and recommended ships to bypass the area.
Representatives of gas pipeline operating companies have not yet provided details of the incident, noting that they continue to clarify the circumstances. However, Nord Stream AG spoke of the "unprecedented nature of the damage" and acknowledged that recovery would take a long time. The Russian and Ukrainian sides have not yet commented on suspicions of sabotage. In the summer, the Russian side unilaterally stopped the flow of gas through the Nord Stream, arguing its actions with Western sanctions that do not allow maintaining the pipeline in working order. European politicians have argued that Moscow is simply using the gas pipeline as a tool of blackmail and intimidation to reduce support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
The shutdown of the Nord Stream caused a new wave of the energy crisis in Europe. The authorities had to rush to find alternative supplies of gas and other energy sources, which led to a sharp increase in energy prices and accelerated inflation to multi-year highs.