European diplomats have informed the United Nations Security Council that evidence of subsea explosives was discovered in samples retrieved from a yacht that was part of an investigation into the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea last year.
They claim that the identity of the perpetrators and whether a state was involved have not yet been determined by the investigation.
The topic is politically sensitive in light of the hostilities that have resulted from Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine and Europe’s efforts to gradually wean itself off of Russian energy sources.
Germany, Sweden, and Denmark have been looking into the attack that happened on September 26.
The Danish Foreign Ministry posted a letter from the three nations’ U.N. ambassadors providing updates on their operations to the president of the Security Council.
Officials expressed concern in March in response to media claims that the sabotage was carried out by a pro-Ukraine group.
German media said at the time that a boat chartered by a Polish company with Ukrainian ownership was used to carry out the attack and that it departed from the German port of Rostock.
However, they did confirm that a boat was searched in January and stated that there was a suspicion that the boat in question may have been used to transport explosive devices that were used to blow up the pipelines. German federal prosecutors declined to make any more comments on those reports or others.
Germany’s findings were detailed in a part of this week’s letter that stated that the sailing yacht’s precise course hadn’t yet been determined with certainty.
In the report, it was stated that “traces of subsea explosives were found in the samples taken from the boat during the investigation,” but no further information was provided.
Specifically in regards to the question of whether the incident was directed by a state or state actor, it stated that it was currently impossible to accurately verify the identity of the perpetrators and their motivations.
All relevant information to shed light on the situation will be pursued throughout the ongoing investigations.”
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline was damaged by the underwater explosions; up until Russia cut off supplies at the end of August, this was Germany’s major natural gas delivery route from Russia.
In addition, they harmed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never put into operation since Germany halted the certification process just before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The pipelines have long been a point of contention between the United States and some of its allies, who have worried that their increased reliance on Russian gas could endanger Europe’s energy security.
Russian officials and President Vladimir Putin have claimed that the U.S. staged the pipeline explosions, which they have labeled a terrorist act.
Suggestions that Ukraine may have authorized the strike have been dismissed.
The nations looking into the blasts have not made any comments about potential offenders.
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