In Norway, the place of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline rupture was photographed for the first time. The photos were taken at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Operators of a deep-sea drone of the Norwegian company Blueye Robotics took pictures of one of the points of rupture of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. According to Expressen, the pipeline explosion occurred at a depth of 75 – 76 meters.
First 📹undersea-video, site of explosion. Oct 17 #BalticSea #Pipeline #OOTT #Maritime #Nordstream #oil #gas pic.twitter.com/tiW10CSVL3
— I know (@luvyall22) October 18, 2022
Is Russia involved in the sabotage of Nord Stream 1?
The underwater camera of the Norwegian operators recorded damage to the pipe, which was torn during the alleged sabotage.
At the site of the Nord Stream pipe break Sweden conducted an examination, the findings of which strengthened the version of sabotage. Sweden has previously refused to share the results of its investigation with Russia.
The Swedish investigation confirmed the explosions at Nord Stream. The materials seized from the crime scene are being analyzed to find out “whether someone can be served with suspicion and subsequently brought to justice”.
German investigators think Russia is behind the explosion
German investigators have not been able to definitively link the alleged sabotage to any person, but suggest that Russia is behind the explosions. It was reported by WSJ.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, German investigators have determined that a series of explosions along the pipelines were likely caused by sabotage, adding weight to similar earlier findings by the Swedes. German investigators have not been able to definitively link the alleged sabotage to any individual, but some German officials say Russia is behind the explosions.
Officials in some Western capitals said the gas shutdown was a political move in response to sanctions triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow denies responsibility and says the explosions were a terrorist attack targeting Russian interests. A preliminary Swedish investigation earlier this month concluded that the blasts, which occurred in late September, were likely caused by sabotage, but it also did not name a culprit. NATO said shortly after the attacks that the leaks were the result of sabotage, but did not provide any evidence or name a culprit.
The explosions damaged three of the four pipes that are part of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream2 gas pipelines. The only pipeline that was not affected by the explosions was one of the two lines of the second pipeline. Germany refused to certify Nord Stream 2 after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Last week, President Vladimir Putin blamed the West for the collapse of energy supplies and said “it is only necessary to open the tap” to resume gas supplies to Germany through the undamaged pipe, known as Nord Stream 2 B.
Some German officials say that by leaving one line intact in this attack, Russia is trying to increase pressure on German politicians to open Nord Stream 2. However, a German government spokeswoman said there are no plans to launch the pipeline.
The pipelines pass through the waters of Germany, Sweden and Denmark. All three countries are investigating the incident. For administrative reasons governing inter-agency intelligence sharing, Sweden is not conducting a joint investigation with its two neighbors, but officials say the three countries are working closely with each other as well as with NATO partners.
