Russian FM accuses US of sabotaging Nord Stream pipelines

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that there is now no doubt that Washington is behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.

“The US—there is no doubt about it—is behind the explosions of the Nord Stream pipelines, which left Europe without affordable Russian fuel and, consequently, without a stable foundation for economic development,” Lavrov said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

A segment of his remarks was shared by Pavel Zarubin, a prominent TV host, on his Telegram channel.

The Nord Stream pipelines, consisting of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, are major natural gas pipelines running from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. They are significant for European energy supply, as they deliver Russian natural gas directly to Europe, bypassing traditional transit countries like Ukraine and Poland.

On September 26, 2022, a series of explosions caused significant damage to both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The explosions occurred in the Baltic Sea, causing leaks and leading to a loss of gas pressure in the pipelines.

The explosions led to environmental damage, with methane gas leaking into the Baltic Sea. They also disrupted the energy supply, impacting Europe's energy security and raising concerns about potential long-term consequences for the region's energy infrastructure.