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NORD STREAM

Denmark recovers object near sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline

Denmark has recovered a cylindrical object spotted near the sabotaged Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the Danish Energy Agency announced Wednesday, adding it was a "smoke buoy".

Published: 30 March 2023 08:38 CEST
Denmark recovers object near sabotaged Nord Stream pipeline
An empty maritime smoke buoy found close to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, March 29th 2023. Photo: Danish Ministry Of Defence/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

The energy agency said in a statement that the object had been recovered at a depth of 73 metres and that a “representative of the owner, Nord
Stream 2 AG, was present during the salvage.”

According to the agency, the recovery was completed on March 28th.

“Investigations indicate that the object is an empty maritime smoke buoy, which is used for visual marking,” it said in a statement, adding that “the
object does not pose a safety risk.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed experts believe that it could be a signal antenna to activate an explosive in that part of the pipeline.

Nearly six months after the explosions that hit the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, it is still a mystery who was responsible for the underwater
sabotage, despite criminal investigations in the countries bordering the damaged part of the pipeline — Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

Russian energy giant Gazprom holds a majority stake in the twin pipelines, with the rest owned by German, Dutch and French companies.

German prosecutors said earlier this month that, in January, investigators searched a ship suspected of having transported explosives used in the blasts.

Confirmation of the searches came after the New York Times reported that US officials had seen new intelligence indicating that a “pro-Ukrainian group”
was responsible for the sabotage.

The Ukrainian government denied involvement in the action, while the Kremlin rejected the Times report as a “diversion”.

READ ALSO: Denmark invites Nord Stream owner to recover mystery object

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NORD STREAM

Danish investigators close Nord Stream sabotage probe

Danish police said on Monday that they were closing their investigation into the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany. 

Published: 26 February 2024 11:59 CET
Danish investigators close Nord Stream sabotage probe

“Based on the investigation, the authorities can conclude that the sabotage of the pipelines was intentional,” Copenhagen Police said in a statement.

“At the same time, it is also assessed that there is not the necessary basis for pursuing a criminal case in Denmark,” it said.

Neighbouring Sweden closed its investigation in early February citing a lack of jurisdiction, meaning only Germany now has an ongoing investigation into the leaks.

Four large gas leaks were discovered on Nord Stream’s two pipelines off the Danish island of Bornholm, with seismic institutes recording two underwater explosions just before.

The pipelines had been at the centre of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation for Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

While the leaks were in international waters, two were in Denmark’s exclusive economic zone and two in Sweden’s.

The pipelines were not in operation when the leaks occurred, but they still contained gas which spewed up through the water and into the atmosphere.

Denmark, Sweden and Germany all opened investigations into the explosions.

All three countries have kept a tight lid on their investigations, which analysts have said was because of the potential diplomatic fallout of what they might uncover.

Copenhagen Police said that the investigation — which had been carried out together with Denmark’s intelligence service PET — had been “complicated and extensive.”

It added that it was not in a position to “provide further comments” in the case.

Different theories have emerged pointing the finger at Ukraine, Russia or the United States. All have denied involvement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticised the closure of Denmark’s investigation, calling it “absurd”.

“The situation is close to absurd. On the one hand, they recognise that a deliberate sabotage took place, but on the other hand they are not moving forward,” Peskov said on Monday.

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