In September this year, the natural gas pipelines of " Nord Stream-1" and " Nord Stream-2" leaked multiple places in the waters near Denmark and Sweden. Previous preliminary investigations in Sweden and Denmark have shown that pipeline damage was caused by violent explosions, but did not indicate who should be responsible for it.
According to Zhejiang Daily citing Reuters today (19th), Swedish prosecutor said on the 18th local time that investigators found traces of explosives at the damaged "North Stream" pipeline, confirming that someone was deliberately destroying it.
Two "Northern Stream" pipelines that Russia transports natural gas to Europe leaked at the end of September, and four leak points appeared in the pipeline section near Sweden and Denmark. The Swedish surveying station detected two strong underwater explosions in the sea area where the leakage occurred in "North Stream-1" and "North Stream-2". It was generally believed that the pipeline was "deliberately damaged."
Sweden and Denmark have launched an investigation into the "North Stream" pipeline leakage incident. The Swedish Procuratorate issued a statement on the 18th to inform the progress of the investigation. "The (technical) analysis has been carried out that several items found so far have traces of explosives... The ongoing investigation will determine whether the suspect can be found." Swedish prosecutor Matts Yongquist, who led the investigation, said that the technical analysis is still continuing in a bid to "go to more reliable conclusions."
The Kremlin of the Russian Presidential Palace is pleased to see the progress of the investigation reported by Sweden on the 18th. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Sweden's data has supported the leakage of the "Northern Stream" pipeline was caused by "deliberate destruction" or "terrorist attacks", which once again confirmed the situation in Russia. Peskov called for continued investigation and it is crucial to find the mastermind behind it.
Swedish media released a video of the leaking part of the "North Stream-1" pipeline for the first time on October 18. The screen showed that a section of pipeline at least 50 meters long was missing in the shooting area, and some parts of the remaining metal pipe wall were deformed. This video was shot by an unmanned submarine and was shot at about 80 meters below sea level. The staff of the remote-controlled submarine said that only extremely powerful forces can transform such a thick metal into what it looks like in the video, "the seabed around the pipeline is subjected to a huge impact."
Denmark's Copenhagen Police Department said on October 18 that preliminary investigations showed that the leakage of two "North Stream" pipelines was caused by strong explosions.
"North Stream-1" pipeline was completed in 2011. It starts from Vyborg, Russia in the east and leads to Germany via the Baltic seabed. The "Beixi-2" pipeline was completed last year and is basically parallel to the "Beixi-1" and has not yet been put into use. Some natural gas is sealed in the pipeline.
#What crises will the damage of the Nord Stream pipeline cause?#
