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Europe
Nord Stream pipelines supplying gas from Russia suffer 'unprecedented' damage and start leaking in Baltic sea causing 'danger to shipping' amid suspicions of 'targeted attack'
2022-09-27
[MAIL] The Nord Stream pipelines which supply Russian gas throughout Europe have suffered 'unprecedented' damage and are now leaking into the Baltic Sea in waters off Denmark amid suspicions of sabotage.

Shocking footage released by the Danish military from a flyover of the affected region showed huge swathes of the Baltic Sea churning as the gas bubbled to the surface.

A military statement claimed that the largest leak 'is spreading bubbles a good kilometre in diameter. The smallest is creating a circle about 200 metres (656 feet) in diameter'.

Two leaks in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline were reported by Sweden's Maritime Authority last night, shortly after a leak on the nearby Nord Stream 2 pipeline was discovered that prompted Denmark to restrict shipping in the area.

Both pipelines have been flashpoints in an escalating energy war between Europe and Moscow amid Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine that has pummelled major Western economies and sent gas prices soaring.

Poland's Prime Minister openly accused Russia of sabotaging the pipelines at an opening of a new pipeline between Norway and his nation today.

Related: FOX News Business update found at this link.
Posted by:Skidmark

#19  Crossed my mine; there was enough of a come to a resolution so that we don't go broke and freeze this winter movement that the gas lines had to be zapped to eliminate that option and keep this course.

Probably because Ukraine was right on the heels with "Show your meddle, send more tanks especially German tanks."

Leaving an Out for EU was Russia's best leverage here. Why would they 86 that for the far more controversial and dangerous nuclear exchange? That Sun Tsu arm would always be there with heat in the Winter just as soon as EU was ready to say When.

Then there were those posters which popped up back in August, "We will be cold this Winter so Ukraine is not along."? Easy to say in Summer. Already, reports of restaurants switching to candles to light and supplemental heat.

Lot of people on Team DC would be ruined if Team EU capitulated between now and elections. Lot of people on Team NATO wanting to get some sweet defense budget increases I'm sure but that won't matter if Team EU is already shuttering manufacturing, especially smelting.

Then after two years of two weeks to flatten the Covid, that German minister was like, "Yeah, two weeks to flatten the energy demand." Seriously?

Russia mobilizing enough forces for a Winter Campaign, video taunts and demonstrations about having heat for the Winter? I'm looking at a group not wanting this conflict to end for at least two more months.

That is Team DC, Team Elensky, and Team MIC. And if your Energy Company plays ball, some of the cheese.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-09-27 21:11  

#18  When I read about this the analogy that came to mind was Cortez sinking his own ships so that his troops would have no way to go but forward. My WAG would be a faction of the Russian government making the statement that relations with Europe are over.
Posted by: Matt   2022-09-27 19:01  

#17  sabotaging our pipelines would set the JFKs and AGs into an orgasmic frenzy.
Posted by: AlanC   2022-09-27 18:29  

#16  Oh the humanity! Imagine how much C02 is being released into the ecosystem. Green Party, where are you?
Posted by: DooDahMan   2022-09-27 17:44  

#15  The Russians are thinking that either Poland or the US is responsible. If the Poles, they recently demanded that Germany pay reparations for WWII. And of course this is exactly the stupid thing that NSA Sullivan would encourage...not realizing that payback on our pipelines would be forthcoming...but of course he is the smartest guy in the room because his azz sat in a seat in a classroom at Yale...morons.
Posted by: Tennessee   2022-09-27 17:19  

#14  Brandon isn't there to order ice cream; just to sign the ticket.

He isn't even an effective enough mascot to attack a sportsball team's mascot.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-09-27 17:03  

#13  Biden would be stupid enough to order this.
Posted by: DarthVader   2022-09-27 16:10  

#12  I thought if the USA did a covert item like this, the lower-level idiots at the Pentagone leaked it at hypersonic speed.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-09-27 16:03  

#11  /\ Crickets from the usual (dwindling) sources might indicate the DoD knows precisely what took place.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-09-27 16:00  

#10  The USS Kearsarge was in the area. Perhaps they might tell us what their sensors detected
Posted by: Griter Slash1619   2022-09-27 14:17  

#9  It's one thing to put a continuous pipe on the sea bed. It's another to fix one that has developed a discontinuity.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-09-27 14:14  

#8  Sure seems to be a lot of looking at Team DC as the culprit.

I don't trust anyone involved. That was Team Russia's greatest weapon. Team NATO would have too many involved which would buttgig correlating Team EU members.

Weird move.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-09-27 14:09  

#7  The sabotage can be seen as an act of economic warfare by the Russians, inching up the consideration of using something like captor mines as a n “anonymous” response. This is an escalation and Putiowill see it as such.

Biden will fond a way to divert US LNG and further cripple our own energy crisis because its a grand gesture politically.
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2022-09-27 13:50  

#6  International waters for both disruptions. I believe that both pipelines are owned by Russia. Wouldn’t surprise me if one of the NATO block was involved with the event - they are the ones who stand to benefit the most in the short term. On one hand Russia can’t use non-functional pipelines as a threat; on the other hand collecting insurance to cover the damage will be challenging; on the gripping hand US carriers/suppliers can make bank selling to the EU
Posted by: Griter Slash1619   2022-09-27 13:19  

#5  Each pipeline apparently contained several million cf of natural gas. IDK if there are intermediate valves that can be closed. At least part of both pipelines is now full of water, of course.

Sweden says the explosions were in the realm of hundreds of kilos based on seismographic evidence.

It would take some fairly sophisticated equipment: a submarine, a ROV, or a combination of the two. And involve enough people that it's likely to leak eventually.

It certainly benefits Ukraine by eliminating Russia's energy leverage on Europe for quite some time. I'm skeptical they have the equipment or skills to do it.

How about a Russian military faction that would like to see Putin fall, but can't confront him directly? (Rank speculation.)
Posted by: Nero   2022-09-27 11:47  

#4  Why are they still pumping gas if they know it's been blown up? That takes energy, y'know.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2022-09-27 10:57  

#3  Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines from Russia to Europe 'are SABOTAGED' sending enormous churning rings of gas bubbles to Baltic Sea surface - one 3,000FT wide - following 'undersea explosions'
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-09-27 10:51  

#2  Russian Underwater Cable Laying Ship RUBIN.

Posted by: Besoeker   2022-09-27 10:00  

#1  ...The German government is now flatly stating 'this was a violent act', i.e.; sabotage.

Mike
Posted by: MikeKozlowski   2022-09-27 09:59  

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