Europe investigates 'attacks' on Russian gas pipelines
STORY: This boiling water, churning above Russian gas pipelines, is the result of what Germany, Denmark and Sweden are now calling ‘attacks’ which have caused major leaks into the Baltic Sea.
The two Nord Stream pipelines are at the center of an energy standoff between Russia and Europe.
Denmark and Sweden released striking images a day after the leaks were reported, saying the largest gas leak had caused surface disturbance of around 0.6 miles in diameter.
But it remains unclear what -- or who -- could have been behind the Nord Stream pipeline leaks.
Europe on Tuesday said it was investigating claims of intentional attack levelled by several countries.
Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau pointed fingers at Russia - though without evidence.
“We are not in a position to reject the notion that this could be an element of Russian hybrid war against NATO.”
"The explosions took place very close to Danish territorial waters, but not within the Danish territorial waters because if this were the case, this would be an intrusion into the NATO territory.”
Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson also expressed concern.
"We have Swedish intelligence, but we have also received information in our contacts with Denmark, and based on this concluded that this is probably a deliberate act. It is probably a matter of sabotage."
Kristoffer Bottzauw is head of Denmark's Energy Agency.
"It is very rare that damages of this type occur, and now three damages have happened within 24 hours, which is why we are very worried about what the reason for this could be."
Bottzauw says it could take a week for gas to stop draining out of Nord Stream 2, that ships could lose buoyancy if they entered the area, and warned that because the sea surface is full of methane, there is an increased risk of explosions.
Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia after they launched what they called a 'special military operation' in Ukraine earlier this year.
Moscow slashed its gas deliveries to Europe in retaliation, blaming Western sanctions for causing technical difficulties.
But on Tuesday, Moscow also agreed that sabotage was a possibility.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that sabotage was a lose-lose situation.
"The leaks are under investigation, there are initial reports indicating that this may be the result of an attack or some kind of sabotage, but these are initial reports and we haven't confirmed that yet. But if it is confirmed, that is clearly in no one's interest."
The escalating energy war between European capitals and Moscow has damaged major Western economies, sent gas prices soaring, and has sparked a hunt for alternative supplies.
While neither of the two pipelines currently leaking were in use on Monday, the incidents will sink any remaining expectations that Europe could receive fuel via Nord Stream 1 before winter.
相關影片推薦
- 1:18美馬戲團大象逃脫 穿梭車陣民眾驚呼 馬路秒變野生動物園Yahoo奇摩(國際通)32,596 次觀看・1 天前
- 6:11強震來臨這3個縣市最危險 李鴻源曝災防都更因「票房毒藥」難行今天誰來沛272,071 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:53加拿大史上最大黃金盜竊案逮6人 加航「內鬼」偽造空運單 400公斤黃金恐已熔化售出Yahoo奇摩(國際通)38,097 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:13柯建銘質詢一半突喊「我看不到」計時器 透露眼睛病變華視影音8,284 次觀看・1 天前
- 2:02英國女遊台南「喝全糖珍奶」 嚇壞驚呼:天大錯誤華視影音315,493 次觀看・2 天前
- 1:1126歲抗癌網紅因胃癌去世 生命最後5個月沒吃沒喝娛樂星聞60,998 次觀看・3 天前
- 1:15謝和弦不認偷吃陳芳語嗆前妻記錯人!自爆出軌對象是「她」秒遭Keanna打臉娛樂星聞17,414 次觀看・1 天前
- 23:55台積電法說會登場 投資人關心加碼美國新廠風險 但面對拜登和川普搶當美國保護主義隊長 川普幕僚密謀促貶美元 拜登祭301調查要提高中國商品關稅 台積電等於買了保險|鏡轉全球 #鏡鏡新聞1,230 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:17情侶吵架「氣到跳車」 女友摔翻滾5圈慘死|#鏡新聞鏡新聞2,670 次觀看・2 天前
- 1:41土耳其「身障狗狗列車」出動 天天載毛孩外出兜風、感受世界風光Yahoo奇摩(國際通)63,122 次觀看・1 天前