The ongoing large leaks from the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines near a Danish island in the Baltic Sea are due to “deliberate acts” and “not an accident”, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday night. .
“The clear view of the authorities is that these are deliberate acts. We are not talking about an accident,” Mette Frederiksen told a news conference on the Danish government crisis, without naming any suspects.
The Copenhagen conclusion is based in particular on the fact that the holes through which the gas escapes are “too big” to be of accidental cause and that they were caused “by detonations”, detailed Energy Minister Dan Jørgensen.
“There is no information yet to tell us who is responsible,” said Mette Frederiksen.
Copenhagen estimates that leaking pipes should last “at least a week” until the methane escaping from underwater pipes runs out, according to Dan Jørgensen.
The two gas pipelines, operated by a consortium dependent on the Russian giant Gazprom, are not operational due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, but they were full of gas.
Ukraine accuses Russia
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, connecting Russia with Germany under the Baltic Sea, have been victims of leaks since Monday. On Tuesday, a Swedish seismic institute reported that two underwater explosions “probably due to detonations” were recorded near the sites of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipeline leaks shortly before they were detected.
Ukraine very quickly accused Russia, in the voice of the advisor to the presidency, Mykhaïlo Podoliak. He denounced on Twitter a “planned terrorist attack” by Russia “against the European Union.”
The Kremlin spokesman said he was “extremely concerned” about these leaks and said on Tuesday that “no” hypothesis should be excluded, including sabotage.
Source: BFM TV
