Traces of underwater explosives found on the yacht linked to the attack on the North Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines

Investigators found traces of underwater explosives in samples taken from a yacht that was searched as part of the investigation into last year's attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, according to a letter from European diplomats to the United Nations Security Council, as reported today by the Associated Press (AP) ).

According to the diplomats, the investigation has not yet determined who tampered with the underwater gas pipelines, the purpose of which was to transport Russian natural gas to Germany.

The attack occurred on September 26, 2022, at a time when Europe was trying to reduce its energy dependence on Russia after the Kremlin launched an occupation of Ukraine on February 24 of the same year. Sabotages on gas pipelines contributed to tensions after the start of the war in that country, and the cause of the sabotage remained a mystery for the whole world.

Denmark, Sweden and Germany launched an investigation, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted a letter sent by the ambassadors of the three countries to the United Nations to the UN Security Council to inform it about their activities.

In March, officials urged caution regarding media reports that a pro-Ukrainian group of people was involved in the sabotage.

German media reported that five men and one woman used a yacht, chartered by a Ukrainian company in Poland, to carry out the attack, and that the yacht sailed from the German port of Rostock.

German federal prosecutors did not want to comment directly on that and other reports, but did confirm that a ship was searched in January, and that there is suspicion that it could have been used to transport explosives intended to sabotage submarine gas pipelines.

In the part of the letter to the Security Council that refers to the German investigative findings, it is stated that the exact sailing course of the yacht has not been definitively established.

It states, however, that "traces of underwater explosives were found in samples taken from the ship during the investigation." No other details were provided.

The letter concludes that "at this time, it is not possible to reliably establish the identity of the perpetrators and their motives, especially with regard to whether the incident occurred under the control of a state or a state player."

Underwater explosions breached the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, through which Russia supplied Germany with gas until the Kremlin ordered the end of deliveries at the end of August 2022.

The explosion also damaged the gas pipeline Sjeverni tok 2, which was never used but was completely built. Namely, Germany did not issue a permit for its use after Russia attacked Ukraine.

For years, the USA has criticized Europe that these gas pipelines make it dependent on Russian gas and that they are a risk to European energy security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian officials accused the US of being behind the sabotage of the two gas pipelines and called the attacks "terrorist".

Ukraine denies any involvement in the attack.

Countries investigating the sabotage are not giving their views on who might be responsible.

Since the attack, NATO has significantly increased its presence in the Baltic and North Seas.