In late September, powerful explosions rocked the Nord Stream network, which used to be the main route for Russian gas into Europe, with massive leaks and “unprecedented” damage subsequently reported by the operator. Footage from one of the crime scenes off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm subsequently revealed a gash of half a meter.
Two minesweepers from the Swedish Armed Forces have arrived at the site of the Nord Stream subsea network to carry out new examinations of the damaged pipes.
The Swedish crime scene investigation was completed some time ago, but the military has now decided that it needs to supplement the material which has already been collected.
“We felt the need for completion, and to do more research,” Swedish Navy spokesman Jimmie Adamsson told the country's media.
The Navy said that the ships at the scene of the explosion are the HMS Vinga and the HMS Sturkö.
“Their main job is to search for mines or to go down with submarines. There is no connection to mines in this case - the connection is that they are equipped to carry out work and investigations underwater,” Adamsson said, refusing to comment on previous finds and whether the Swedish military is looking for something in particular.
The investigation is expected to be completed later this week.
In late September, powerful explosions rocked the pipelines of the Nord Stream network, which plays an important role in transporting Russian gas to Europe, with massive leaks of fuel and “unprecedented” damage reported by the operator. Moscow branded the attack international terrorism, and the European Union and national leaders said that the gas link was sabotaged. The Swedish and Danish authorities also voiced suspicions of sabotage, citing recorded explosions in the area, but both forbade Russia to investigate the attack.
Denmark, Germany and Sweden have all launched separate investigations into the leaks — Denmark and Sweden because the explosions occurred in their economic zones, and Germany because that is where the pipelines terminate. However, they have remained tight-lipped over their findings and conclusions.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia is working through diplomatic channels to gain access to the investigations on Nord Stream, but has so far come up against a wall of resistance. The spokesman also stressed that the Kremlin has no new data on the subject, since Russia is currently deprived of the opportunity to take part in the investigations.
Since explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline network, several European nations have tightened security around key infrastructure. Swedish security authorities have urged energy infrastructure operators to up their preparedness and vigilance. And in neighboring Norway, the authorities boosted security at oil and gas installations, deploying the Home Guard.
Recently, it was reported that three German frigates will stay in Norway after NATO drills to protect the Nordic country's oil and gas installations. Ever since the EU slapped Russian energy with sanctions because of Moscow's special operation in Ukraine, Norway has replaced Russia as the EU's biggest energy supplier, harvesting record revenues and drawing accusations of profiteering and preying on fellow European nations in their hour of need.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the investigation of terrorist attacks can only be considered reliable and objective if Moscow participates in it.
Footage shot off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm by Swedish media earlier this month showed a massive half-meter-wide gash in one of the pipes. Traces of a powerful explosion are also visible on the seabed floor.
No comments:
Post a Comment