The sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines was carried out at the state level, no “amateur” could do it. Such notice Express Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin.
At the same time, the head of state called the version about the alleged involvement of some pro-Ukrainian activists in the incident “nonsense”.
“I’m sure that’s complete nonsense. An explosion of this kind, such power, at such depth can only be carried out by specialists, and supported by all the power of the state, which has certain technologies,” he explained.
According to Putin, the United States theoretically has an interest in undermining Nord Stream, in particular to stop the supply of Russian energy carriers on the European market and to supply its own volumes, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), even if it is 25-30% more expensive than Russian.
The head of state explained that it is very difficult for Moscow to carry out its own investigation into the incident, since Russian specialists are not allowed to enter the scene. At the same time, according to Putin, “some time ago” during an inspection by Gazprom specialists of the water area near the sites of the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Danish exclusive economic zone, an object similar to the antenna of an explosive device was discovered.
“At a distance of about 30 km from the site of the explosion, a column was found, which was in the same place where the explosion occurred. And what are these places – these are the most vulnerable places of the gas pipeline, it is the junction of the pipes. And there was a column. Experts believe that it could be an antenna intended to receive a signal to trigger an explosive device which could be placed under the pipeline ” , said the president.
Now Moscow would like to get permission from the Danish authorities to “independently, or together with them, or better, by forming an international group of experts and explosives who can work to such depth”, carry out the necessary investigations and ” if necessary, neutralize this explosive device, if there is one”, but the answer is still “uncertain”, Putin said.
“Apparently several explosive devices were planted, something exploded and something didn’t explode. For what reasons is not clear,” he added.
Speaking about the possibility of repairing Nord Stream, the president said it was not an easy question, because “in world practice there are not even examples of repairing such systems after such incidents” . At the same time, according to him, “theoretically, of course, technologically, everything is possible”, but it will require time, money and “some new technologies”.
Putin also noted that gas pipelines have a future if Russia’s European partners “renew the instinct of national interest.” “Of course, I think so. If our European partners are interested, if they still have that national interest instinct, then, of course, there is (the future),” he said.
On the morning of March 14, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations informed that Moscow distributed to the Security Council and the UN General Assembly a copy of the correspondence with Germany, Denmark and Sweden regarding the investigation into the sabotage of Nord Stream. The documents will allow the UN to satisfy itself that “the allegations that these countries have informed us of the progress of their investigations are not true,” Polyansky said.
Explosions on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines occurred in September 2022. As a result, three out of four wires were damaged. NATO called the result of “deliberate, reckless and irresponsible acts of sabotage”. Sergei Naryshkin, chairman of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), claimed the intelligence service “had some material” pointing to a “Western trace” in the blasts. The head of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, insists that the United States is the main beneficiary of the sabotage of the gas pipeline. In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the main beneficiaries of sabotage were the United States, Ukraine and Poland. American journalist Seymun Hersh published an investigation in early February, alleging that the United States and Norway had organized the Nord Stream bombing. According to Hersh, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan “ordered” the sabotage. The United States and Norway deny any connection with the attacks. In early March, the New York Times published an article stating that the Nord Stream gas pipeline had been destroyed by a pro-Ukrainian group. The Washington Post also wrote about the involvement of “pro-Ukrainian saboteurs” in the sabotage. According to Die Zeit, a “Ukrainian commando” is responsible for blowing up the pipeline. Official Kiev denies any involvement in the sabotage.
