Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2

[jon-nyc]

[Mik]

[George K]

Putin explains.

[jon-nyc]

File this under interesting speculation of the "cui bono" variety:

Could China have done it?

It pinches Europe while giving them monopsony power buying Russian gas.

[Renauda]

Who might have or probably did it:

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/04/shock-and-awe-who-attacked-the-nord-stream-pipelines-a78952

[jon-nyc]

Interesting but he could also have covered US and Chinese incentives.

[Renauda]

@jon-nyc

The fact that Tucker Carlson had already JAQed off over US incentives likely served as a deterrent for him. Good question about China though.

[Renauda]

Hybrid warfare, is Norway’s production next?

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/is-russia-preparing-to-target-vital-norwegian-energy-exports-to-europe/?mkt_tok=NjU5LVdaWC0wNzUAAAGHQ8XpilwoHYXpb57A1ArgS4lU4Qi0oF531tPyaXt08gMC1cNkIhYqSlUZHxmP3bE6jjLMQpaxje-VMFd4sXHRlspW665fCDkI_I9nGfASeg

[jon-nyc]

[Copper]

[George K]

Pitchers

https://www.newsweek.com/new-images-reveal-extent-damage-done-nord-stream-after-explosion-1752869

Danish investigators believe that the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines by "powerful explosions."

One source claims the explosions came from within the pipeline.

[Renauda]

@George-K

As I have suspected all along, the Russian FSB launched weaponised smart pigs into the line and detonated them at designated points far from Russia.

SPECTRE SMERSH fingerprints all over it.

[Axtremus]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/oct/18/nord-stream-1-first-underwater-images-reveal-devastating-damage

“… long tears in the seabed near the concrete-reinforced steel pipe that was not merely cracked but torn apart ... At least 50 metres of the gas pipeline appeared to be missing.”
…

Based on original reporting by a Swedish news site (more pictures and videos here): https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/forsta-bilderna-fran-sprangda-gasroret-pa-ostersjons-botten/

[George K]

Explosives found

Swedish authorities investigating a series of blasts that damaged undersea natural-gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea said they had found traces of explosives on several foreign objects nearby, a potential break in an international probe into who was responsible for what authorities have called sabotage.

Sweden, in a statement Friday, said it found traces of explosives on several of the foreign objects. It didn’t elaborate but said it was continuing the “very complex and extensive” probe aimed at finding a culprit.

The discovery of explosives could help investigators learn the origins of the material. A press officer at the prosecutor’s office said it wasn’t clear if the material they had found was traceable.

[Jolly]

So, what is the West going to do about it?

[Renauda]

@Jolly

Continue to sanction and isolate Russia.

[George K]

@Renauda said in Leaks in the pipeline - Nord Stream 1 & 2:

Continue to sanction and isolate Russia.

I've read that that's not making as serious an effect as hoped.

[Renauda]

@George-K

Well diplomacy hasn’t worked with Russia. Appeasement will only encourage continued bad behaviour in future. Doesn’t leave much else in the toolbox short of regime change. Don’t think anyone has the desire for the unintended consequences of that option.

So containment via economic sanction and political isolation remain the only practicable options in addition to material and technical support of Ukraine we have at the moment.

[Jolly]

The support for Ukraine may slow with a coming recession.

[Renauda]

@Jolly

Make no mistake, the Kremlin is banking on it.