Three mysterious leaks in two significant gas pipelines connecting Russia and Europe are being investigated by European nations. Although sabotage has not been ruled out as a possibility, the cause of the damage to Nord Stream 1 and 2 is unknown.

The undersea lines simultaneously suffered “unprecedented” damage in a single day, according to Nord Stream 1’s operator. When Moscow and Europe have been at odds over energy, both pipelines have been hot spots.

Whatever the cause of the damage, since neither pipeline was in use, it won’t immediately affect the flow of gas to Europe.

The European Union has in the past charged Russia with using a drop in gas supplies as a form of blackmail against Europe, but Moscow has refuted this. It claims that it is impossible to properly maintain the gas infrastructure because of sanctions imposed on Russia.

A map displaying the path taken by the Nord Stream pipelines between Germany and Russia.

Unverified reports in German media claimed that the undersea gas network attack is still a possibility for the authorities.

Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, said it was too soon to draw any conclusions but that it was difficult to think that the numerous leaks could be a coincidence.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, expressed his “extreme concern” over the incident and said it was impossible to rule out the possibility of a planned attack.

Since Russia shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in August for maintenance, which involves two parallel branches, no gas has been transported.

From the Russian coast near St. Petersburg to northeastern Germany, it extends 1200 km beneath the Baltic Sea. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, its twin pipeline, Nord Stream 2, which is owned by Russia, was shut down.

Both pipelines still contain gas even though none of them are currently in use.

Authorities from Germany, Denmark, and Sweden are all looking into the incidents.

On Monday afternoon, the Nord Stream 2 operators issued a warning about a loss of pressure in the pipeline. As a result, Danish authorities issued a warning that ships should stay away from the area near the island of Bornholm.

The leak could last for a few days, possibly even a week, the Danish energy authority told the Reuters news agency.

In response to two leaks in Nord Stream 1, the Swedish Maritime Authority also issued a warning a few hours later.

Operators of the pipeline, Nord Stream AG, stated that it was impossible to predict when the infrastructure would be repaired.

Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, energy prices have increased sharply, and dwindling supplies could cause prices to rise even higher.

Families in the EU are worried that they won’t be able to afford the cost of heating this winter.

With the opening of a new gas pipeline, Poland is taking the lead in the effort to reduce reliance on Russia, once Europe’s primary energy supplier.

The Baltic Pipe will be a new route for Norwegian gas to reach Europe, opening up access to it for nations south of Poland like Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

(Adapted from Reuters.com)

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