Two Baltic Sea gas pipelines between Russian and Germany were sabotaged on the same day. Here is an article from the Guardian:
European leaders blame sabotage as gas pours into Baltic from Nord Stream pipelines
Sabotage is the most likely cause of leaks in two Baltic Sea gas pipelines between Russia and Europe, European leaders have said, after seismologists reported explosions around the Nord Stream pipelines.
A seismograph on the Danish island of Bornholm, near where the leaks occurred, twice recorded spikes on Monday, the day on which the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines underwent dramatic falls in pressure, the German geological research centre GFZ said.
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Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen described them as "deliberate acts", adding: "We are not talking about an accident."Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the leaks were an act of sabotage that “probably marks the next step of escalation of the situation in Ukraine”.
Sweden’s outgoing prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, said "there have been detonations" although foreign minister Ann Linde said they would not "speculate on motives or actors".
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Amid the claims of sabotage, suspicion immediately turned to potential culprits – with fingers pointed at Russia, whose pipelines were hit, suggesting a further weaponisation of energy supplies to Europe in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine. Not least it was seen as a possible message about the vulnerability of other marine gas infrastructure."There are some indications that it is deliberate damage. You have to ask: Who would profit?" one European security source told Reuters.
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The steel pipe itself has a wall of 4.1 cm (1.6 inches) and is coated with steel-reinforced concrete up to 11cm thick. Each section of the pipe weighs 11 tonnes, which goes to 24-25 tonnes after the concrete is applied.
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There were two explosions on the same day and both pipelines are leaking. Nature doesn't work this way. So, it seems that somebody has deliberately sabotaged underwater gas pipelines from Russia to Germany.
Who would profit? Or, who would be willing to do it?
I think Russia would never sabotage the pipelines. Russia can threaten Germany with gas supply because there are pipelines between two countries. If the pipelines are gone, why should Germany listen to Russia when there is no way to receive the gas?
If Russia wants to cut off the gas supply, it will close the valve. There is no need to blow up the pipelines. Zero profit for Russia. It's just pointless.
Then, who would be willing to sabotage the pipeline? Here is an interesting article from ABC News, dated Feb. 7, 2022:
Biden, German chancellor present united front amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine
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While the Biden administration has warned for weeks that Russia will face "severe" consequences if it invades Ukraine, Germany had often opted for a softer response, refusing to send military equipment to Ukraine or deploy more troops to the eastern flank. Germany had also shown reluctance to shut down Nord Stream 2, a Russian natural gas pipeline, not yet operational, that would carry gas directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.
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"If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the -- the border of Ukraine again, then there will be -- there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2," Biden said during the press conference with Scholz, who did not go as far as Biden, but insisted the U.S. and Germany remain "absolutely united."Pressed on how he can commit to that given that Nord Stream 2 is under German control, Biden doubled down, saying, "We will -- I promise you -- we will be able to do it."
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I might be wrong, but this is my personal guess for now: the US pressured Germany not to buy Russian gas. Germany was not willing to comply because it was already struggling with skyrocketing energy cost. The US was not happy and the military blew up the pipelines.
Anyway, I guess it's going to be a cold winter in Europe.
