Journalists from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland discovered that these vessels are potentially capable of conducting underwater operations.
In September 2022, Russian warships approached the explosion sites of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines three times. This is stated in the joint investigation of four Scandinavian television and radio companies: DR (Denmark), NRK (Norway), SVT Finland).
The Russian ships were moving in the area with their identification devices turned off, but because of information about the radio communications the ships exchanged with their military bases, they were able to establish their movements, said investigation.
Journalists note that these vehicles are potentially capable of conducting underwater operations. They came close to gas pipelines twice in June 2022. The last incident happened less than a week before the explosions. In one of these cases, the ship remained at the site of the pipelines almost around the clock.
The media added that on June 6 last year, a Russian Navy ship left the Kaliningrad naval base and arrived east of Bornholm on the morning of June 7. She spent several hours in the area where Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream pass. 2 gas pipelines in the seabed at a depth of approximately 80 m. Three of the four explosions occurred at these points.
The next movement of the Russian Navy ship took place a week later, on June 14, 2022. The ship remained in place until the following day. According to a former British naval intelligence officer, the ship is most likely the 86m Russian naval research vessel Sibiryakov.
The SB-123, which belongs to the Russian Baltic Fleet, arrived at the place where the explosions took place on September 21 last year, that is, five days before the explosions. According to radio communications, the tugboat SB-123 arrived in the area of Bornholm near the Nord Stream gas pipeline on the night of September 21. She remained in the area until the next day. A radio signal was also received from the ship on the morning of the 22nd. The gas pipeline leak was discovered four days later.
Experts do not believe that the presence of Russian ships can be explained, for example, by participation in exercises.
Naval officer and explorer Jens Wenzel Christophersen also finds the results interesting.
“If it turns out that the perpetrators (bombs) are the Russians, it seems that they collected information, accurately mapped the target of the operation and planted explosives on their ships,” he said.
As previously reported, at the end of September 2022, Danish and Swedish authorities reported gas leaks in two Nord Stream lines near Bornholm Island, which occurred due to explosions.
Later in November of last year, the Swedish authorities confirmed the fact of sabotage on gas pipelines – the investigation found the remains of explosives.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.