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Revision as of 01:28, 28 September 2022 view sourceBobNesh (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,675 edits →Fears of sabotage: Biden infamous threat against Nord Stream 2 and comments made by the Polish minister of defence added. Forbes is the source for the second claim! So, it's reliable.← Previous edit Revision as of 01:38, 28 September 2022 view source NewsAndEventsGuy (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers27,732 edits →Fears of sabotage: NPOV..... this stuff is gross speculation, and I've already seen people speculating it was othersNext edit →
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The ] said that it did not rule out sabotage as a reason for the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reuters |date=2022-09-27 |title=Kremlin: sabotage cannot be ruled out as reason for Nord Stream damage |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/kremlin-sabotage-cannot-be-ruled-out-reason-nord-stream-damage-2022-09-27/ |access-date=2022-09-27}}</ref> ], a Kremlin spokesperson, said: "We cannot rule out any possibility right now. Obviously, there is some sort of destruction of the pipe. Before the results of the investigation, it is impossible to rule out any option."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Huge Nord Stream pipeline leaks could be sabotage, says Danish PM |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/gas-leak-detected-near-nord-stream-2/ |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref> The ] said that it did not rule out sabotage as a reason for the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reuters |date=2022-09-27 |title=Kremlin: sabotage cannot be ruled out as reason for Nord Stream damage |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/kremlin-sabotage-cannot-be-ruled-out-reason-nord-stream-damage-2022-09-27/ |access-date=2022-09-27}}</ref> ], a Kremlin spokesperson, said: "We cannot rule out any possibility right now. Obviously, there is some sort of destruction of the pipe. Before the results of the investigation, it is impossible to rule out any option."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Huge Nord Stream pipeline leaks could be sabotage, says Danish PM |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/gas-leak-detected-near-nord-stream-2/ |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref>


=== Speculation as to potential perpetrators ===
==== United States of America ====
Some people, ], such as ''].'' '']'' and '']'' have claimed that the attack may have been sabotage against the Russians by the ] and/or ] based on a speech made by ] back in Febuary 2022 when he said that "we have means" when asked about how the Nord Stream pipelines would be shut down as they are under control of the ] and ] governments as part of an attempt of removing leverage on the side of ] as people across ] protest the ] due to the looming ].<ref>{{Citation |title=US Accused Of SABOTAGE After NordStream Pipelines RUPTURE, Video Shows Biden Vowing To END Gas Line |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbM7-r2VaMc |language=en |access-date=2022-09-27}} Via '']'' by '']''.</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Mark Steyn {{!}} Tuesday 27th September |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_kgrzKs6iE |language=en |access-date=2022-09-27}} ] on ] via ].</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Steyn |first=Mark |date=27 September 2022 |title=] on ] at 20:00 on 27/09/2022 |language=] |work=] |type=]}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Sabotage? Both NordStream Pipelines Blown Up! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlK5-e-4Tow |language=en |access-date=2022-09-27}}''] via ]''</ref> Some people, ], such as ''].'' '']'' and '']'' have claimed that the attack may have been sabotage against the Russians by the ] and/or ] based on a speech made by ] back in Febuary 2022 when he said that "we have means" when asked about how the Nord Stream pipelines would be shut down as they are under control of the ] and ] governments as part of an attempt of removing leverage on the side of ] as people across ] protest the ] due to the looming ].<ref>{{Citation |title=US Accused Of SABOTAGE After NordStream Pipelines RUPTURE, Video Shows Biden Vowing To END Gas Line |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbM7-r2VaMc |language=en |access-date=2022-09-27}} Via '']'' by '']''.</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Mark Steyn {{!}} Tuesday 27th September |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_kgrzKs6iE |language=en |access-date=2022-09-27}} ] on ] via ].</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Steyn |first=Mark |date=27 September 2022 |title=] on ] at 20:00 on 27/09/2022 |language=] |work=] |type=]}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Sabotage? Both NordStream Pipelines Blown Up! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlK5-e-4Tow |language=en |access-date=2022-09-27}}''] via ]''</ref>


Revision as of 01:38, 28 September 2022

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Mystery gas leak in the Nord Stream pipelines

Map showing the location of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea

On 26 September 2022, a gas leak on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was discovered in the Baltic Sea southeast of the Danish island Bornholm. Several hours later, two more leaks were discovered on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to the northeast of the island. Both pipelines, connecting Russia and Germany, were closed due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the leaks occurred one day after Poland and Norway opened the alternative pipeline Baltic Pipe running through Denmark. The leaks are located in international waters (not part of any nation's territorial sea), but within the economic zones of Denmark and Sweden.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the leaks were caused by deliberate action, not accidents, and specified that explosions had been recorded. Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that it likely was sabotage. Earlier, several commentators had suggested that the circumstances surrounding the leaks appeared to be suspicious and it possible had been an act of sabotage.

Nord Stream AG, the operator of Nord Stream, said the pipelines had sustained "unprecedented" damage in one day. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said it was "a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards the EU".

Background

On 26 September 2022, the operators of Nord Stream 2 warned of a loss of pressure in the pipeline. Hours later, the Danish Energy Agency, in a press briefing, reported that a gas leak had been discovered by the Danish Maritime Authority on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in Danish waters south east of Dueodde, Bornholm. The first gas leak was discovered at coordinates 54°53′00″N 15°25′00″E / 54.883333°N 15.416667°E / 54.883333; 15.416667. Citing a “danger to shipping”, Danish Maritime Authority advised all vessels from moving within 9.3 kilometres (5 nmi) of the accident site, and for planes to stay at least 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above it. The pipe, which was not operational, had been filled with 300 million cubic metres (11 billion cubic feet) of gas in preparation for its first deliveries.

Stack of pipes that make up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, made from steel with a concrete casing

Hours later, a second and third gas leak was discovered on Nord Stream 1 pipeline located in the Swedish economic zone. The Swedish Maritime Administration has detected three seperate leaks with visible concentration of gas leaking out. While neither pipeline has been delivering supplies to Europe, both have still been filled with gas. Each line of the pipeline consists of about 100,000 24-tonne (53,000 lb) concrete-weight coated steel pipes laid on the seabed. The pipelines have a constant internal diameter of 1.153 metres (3 ft 9.4 in), according to Nord Stream. Sections lie at a depth of around 80–110 metres (260–360 ft).

Danish Defence posted a video of the gas leak on their website which shows how the largest of the leaks creates turbulence on the water surface of just over 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) in diameter. The smallest leak makes a circle of about 200 metres (660 ft) in diameter.

Fears of sabotage

The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel wrote that the leaks are being investigated whether they may have been caused by targeted attacks by submarine or clearance divers.

The Swedish public service broadcaster SVT reported that measuring stations in both Sweden and Denmark recorded strong underwater explosions near the Nord Stream pipelines. Björn Lund, Associate Professor in Seismology at The Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN) claimed "there is no doubt that these were explosions". Geological Survey of Denmark said that a seismograph on Bornholm showed two spikes on 26 September: the first at 02:03 (UTC+01:00) had a magnitude of 2.3 and the second at 19:03 had a magnitude of 2.1. Similar data was provided by a seismograph at Stevns, and by several seismographs in Germany, Sweden (as far away as the station in Kalix), Finland and Norway. Data showed that the tremors had happened around the locations of the leaks. At the same time, pressure losses in the pipelines were recorded in Germany. The first warnings of gas leaks came from the Swedish Maritime Administration at 13:52 (UTC+01:00), and the second at 20:41 on 26 September 2022.

The Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, blamed sabotage. At a press briefing late on 27 September, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the leaks were caused by deliberate action, not accidents, and specified that explosions had been recorded. Shortly after, Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said that it likely was sabotage and also mentioned the detonations.

The Kremlin said that it did not rule out sabotage as a reason for the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said: "We cannot rule out any possibility right now. Obviously, there is some sort of destruction of the pipe. Before the results of the investigation, it is impossible to rule out any option."

Speculation as to potential perpetrators

United States of America

Some people, Journalists, such as Ron Paul. Tim Pool and Mark Steyn have claimed that the attack may have been sabotage against the Russians by the US Government and/or NATO based on a speech made by President Joe Biden back in Febuary 2022 when he said that "we have means" when asked about how the Nord Stream pipelines would be shut down as they are under control of the German and Russian governments as part of an attempt of removing leverage on the side of Russia as people across Europe protest the sanctions against Russia due to the looming energy price hyperinflation.

The former Polish defense minister Radek Sikorski also claimed that the Americans sabotaged the pipelines.

Aftermath

On 27 September 2022, European gas prices jumped 12 percent after news spread of the damaged pipelines. The Danish energy minister said that the gas leaks were likely to continue for at least a week. According to Swedish authorities, it will likely take one to two weeks before the leaks have stopped and the pipelines can be safely inspected. Nord Stream AG, the operator of Nord Stream, said that it was impossible to estimate when the infrastructure has been repaired.

Vessels could lose buoyancy if they enter the area, and there might be a risk of leaked gas igniting over the water and in the air, but there were no risks associated with the leak outside the exclusion zone. The leak would only affect the environment in the area in which the gas plume in the water column is located and escaping greenhouse gas methane would have a damaging climate impact. The Danish Navy and Swedish Coast Guard sent ships to monitor the discharge, and keep other vessels away from danger by establishing a safety zone of 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) around each leak. Two of the ships are the Danish Absalon and the Swedish Amfitrite [sv], which are specially designed to operate in contaminated environment such as gas clouds.

The day after the leaks occurred, Swedish police opened an investigation of the incident, calling it "major sabotage". The investigation is conducted in cooperation with other relevant authorities as well as the Swedish Security Service. A similar investigation was opened in Denmark. The two nations were in close contact, and had also been in contact with other countries in the Baltic region and NATO. Because it happened within international waters (not part of any nation's territorial sea, although within the Danish and Swedish economic zones), neither the Danish Prime Minister nor the Swedish Prime Minister regarded it as an attack on their nation.

President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wrote on Twitter that "Any deliberate disruption of active European energy infrastructure is unacceptable & will lead to the strongest possible response."

References

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  2. "Blasts precede Baltic pipeline leaks, sabotage seen likely". ABC News. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
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  40. @vonderleyen (27 September 2022). "Spoke to @Statsmin Frederiksen on the sabotage action #Nordstream. Paramount to now investigate the incidents, get full clarity on events & why. Any deliberate disruption of active European energy infrastructure is unacceptable & will lead to the strongest possible response" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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