Swiss investigators have found a cylindrical object jutting out of the sea bottom by about a foot next to the only pipeline that did not explode. Danish authorities have invited the Russian company that operates the pipeline to join in the trip to recover the item. The mysterious object could be an unexploded bomb or possibly a piece of scrap pipe. There is no way to know until the recovery is completed.
A possible theory is that during a joint operation, the divers entered the ocean on a boat that was rented in Germany and that American divers rigged the bombs. The rented boat was later inspected and traces of explosive material were found. The other three pipelines that transport natural gas from Russia to Germany were blown up. It makes no sense to me that you would blow up three pipelines and leave the other o intact unless a bomb did not go off.
Denmark’s Energy Agency said in a statement:
“With a view to further clarifying the nature of the object, Danish authorities have decided to salvage the object with assistance from the Danish Defence. The Danish Energy Agency has in that context, invited the owner of the pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, to participate in the operation.”
Despite months of investigating, officials have yet to formally accuse anyone of blowing up the pipelines. The company that rented the boat raises red flags among investigators because of its ties to Ukraine. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, blew off questions about whether Ukraine was involved in the sabotage of the pipelines. Russian officials claim that they don’t believe Ukraine was involved.But, even if Ukraine was involved, it would not rule out American involvement.
Podolyak said in a post on social media:
“Although I enjoy collecting amusing conspiracy theories about the [Ukrainian] government, I have to say: [Ukraine] has nothing to do with the Baltic Sea mishap and has no information about ‘pro-[Ukraine] sabotage groups.’”
Investigators say that the 50-foot-long yacht Andromeda, rented from a harbor in northern Germany, could have served as a staging point for divers to swim down to the pipelines on the bed of the Baltic Sea and rig them with explosives. The boat carried traces of explosives when investigators examined it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was under suspicion of ordering the sabotage early on, though no evidence has been found connecting Russia with the explosions. It is unclear what motive Putin would have to carry out the attack, and skeptics have pointed out that if Russia wanted the pipelines offline, it could have cut off the supply of fuel.
Putin has dismissed reports that suggested Ukraine or pro-Ukraine militants were responsible for sabotaging the pipeline.
“One should always look for those who are interested. And who is interested? Theoretically, of course, the United States is interested,” Putin said. The Russian president added that whoever was responsible needed state support to pull it off.
The United States has been pointed to as a potential culprit, earning early suspicion because of some of President Joe Biden’s past opposition to Nord Stream and his pledge to “stop it.” Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, who won a 1970 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting, but whose later journalism has been strongly questioned, reported in February that the United States sabotaged the pipeline with help from Norway.
