A ‘suspicious object’ has been found beneath the Nord Stream 2 pipeline within the Black Sea, Danish investigators have stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated a ship rented by Russian power firm Gazprom had discovered an antenna-like object about 19 miles from the place the Nord Stream pipelines exploded final yr.
He claimed that the item may very well be an explosive system as he warned {that a} new explosion might happen on the pipelines.
‘Consultants imagine that this may very well be an antenna to obtain a sign to detonate an explosive system, which could be put underneath the pipeline system,’ Putin stated.
Denmark at the moment acknowledged a ‘system’ had been discovered, however asserted it doesn’t current a present danger. ‘The evaluation from our authorities is that there isn’t any quick safety danger and thus no hazard to human life or transport,’ Danish overseas minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated a ship rented by Russian power firm Gazprom had discovered an antenna-like object about 19 miles from the place the Nord Stream pipelines exploded final yr
On this file photograph taken on September 27, 2022 this handout image launched by the Danish Defence Command exhibits the gasoline leak on the Nord Stream 2 gasoline pipeline
The Nord Stream 1 and a couple of pipelines connecting Russia and Germany underneath the Baltic Sea have been hit by a sequence of unexplained explosions final September, in what Moscow has referred to as an act of ‘worldwide terrorism’.
Putin at the moment dismissed as ‘sheer nonsense’ allegations that Ukrainians may very well be behind the blasts that broken the Nord Stream gasoline pipelines within the Baltic Sea final yr, and once more pointed the finger on the U.S.
It comes as Denmark stated it was wanting into whether or not the ‘object’ discovered near the one remaining intact Nord Stream gasoline pipeline underneath the Baltic Sea posed any security or environmental dangers.
‘Given the placement of the item related authorities are presently assessing security and environmental concerns,’ the Danish overseas ministry wrote within the letter to the Russian overseas ministry by its embassy in Copenhagen.
On Tuesday, the ministry stated that the evaluation of related authorities concluded that the item didn’t pose any quick safety menace and that there isn’t any quick menace to marine visitors or folks within the space.’
‘We requested the Danish authorities… a few request to work collectively or to type a world group of specialists, specialists,’ Putin stated in an interview with the state Rossiya-1 TV channel.
‘The reply, as I stated, was imprecise. Merely put, no reply. They stated we needed to wait.’
He was requested by a TV reporter whether or not this may very well be a component of a ‘terrorist assault’ on Nord Stream.
Putin replied: ‘Sure, sure, sure, judging by every part. There have been a number of explosive units, one thing exploded, and one thing did not. It’s not clear for what causes.’
A view of the broken Nord Stream pipeline on account of a sequence of explosions final yr
Gazprom had despatched footage of the system to the Danish authorities and held conferences with the embassy in Russia, stated Rasmussen.
‘It has additionally been adopted up with a direct inquiry to our embassy in Russia. In fact, we take it very significantly, and it’s being investigated,’ Rasmussen added.
Final week Die Zeit newspaper reported that German investigators suspected yacht Andromeda, owned by a Ukrainian, was used to plant the explosives on the pipeline.
Putin stated in Siberia that the explosions – resulting in important gasoline leaks – had been carried out on a ‘state degree’.
He dismissed claims an autonomous pro-Ukraine group was accountable as ‘full nonsense’.
Russia in November stated it will hand over ‘proof’ that Britain staged explosions on the Nord Stream gasoline pipelines within the Baltic Sea.
TV propagandists have repeatedly blamed British secret providers or the Royal Navy for an alleged assault.
Nord Stream 2 was constructed to provide Europe with gasoline however NATO nations are in search of various provides following Putin’s invasion of sovereign state Ukraine.