Investigations have revealed that traces of undersea explosives were found in samples taken from a yacht that was searched in connection with last year’s attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, according to European diplomats who spoke to the United Nations Security Council. The investigation has yet to identify the culprits or determine if a state was involved in sabotaging the pipelines, which were constructed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany. The attack occurred during a period when Europe was attempting to reduce its reliance on Russian energy sources following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, and it exacerbated tensions that emerged after the conflict began. The source of the sabotage has remained a significant international mystery.
Denmark, Sweden, and Germany have been conducting inquiries into the attack that took place on September 26th. The Danish Foreign Ministry tweeted a letter on Tuesday from the three countries’ U.N. ambassadors to the president of the Security Council, providing information on their ongoing activities.
In March, media reports suggested that a pro-Ukraine group might have been responsible for the sabotage; however, officials expressed caution at the time. German media reported that a group of five men and one woman utilized a yacht rented by a Ukrainian-owned company in Poland to carry out the attack, with the vessel departing from the German port of Rostock. German federal prosecutors, while declining to comment directly on the reports, confirmed that a boat was searched in January and expressed suspicion that it could have been employed to transport explosives for detonating the pipelines.
Germany’s findings, outlined in the recent letter, indicate that the precise course of the yacht has not been definitively determined. Traces of underwater explosives were discovered in samples taken from the boat during the investigation. However, the letter does not provide further details. It states that the identity of the perpetrators and their motives have not been reliably established, particularly with regard to whether a state or state actor was involved. The ongoing investigations will strive to uncover more information to shed light on the matter.
The explosions caused damage to both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. Nord Stream 1 served as Russia’s primary natural gas supply route to Germany until Russia halted supplies at the end of August. Nord Stream 2, on the other hand, never became operational due to Germany suspending its certification process shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The United States and some of its allies had long criticized the pipelines, warning that they increased Europe’s energy security risks by heightening dependence on Russian gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin and officials have accused the U.S. of orchestrating the explosions, labeling them as a terrorist attack. Ukraine has denied any involvement and the countries conducting the investigations have refrained from commenting on potential responsibility.
Following the blasts, NATO bolstered its presence in the Baltic and North Seas, deploying numerous ships, aircraft, and undersea equipment, including drones.