UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Germany, together with Sweden and Denmark, has discovered traces of subsea explosives in samples extracted from a yacht that they believe may have been utilized to transport the explosives responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. In a letter addressed to the U.N. Security Council, the three countries provided an update on their separate investigations into the series of unexplained explosions that targeted the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea last September. This update comes ahead of a Security Council meeting called by Russia, who has voiced concerns over a lack of information regarding the ongoing probes.
The joint letter, dated Monday and obtained by Reuters, highlighted that none of the investigations had reached a conclusion yet due to the unprecedented nature and complexity of the acts of sabotage. Germany, in particular, has been focusing on a suspiciously chartered sailing yacht, rented in a manner designed to conceal the true identity of the charterer. The precise movements of the boat are still under investigation. Germany believed that this specific yacht could have been involved in transporting the explosives responsible for the Nord Stream incidents, as traces of subsea explosives were found in samples obtained during their inquiry.
Expert assessments suggested that trained divers might have planted explosives at vulnerable points along the seabed-located Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which are situated at depths of approximately 70 to 80 meters. The investigation conducted by Germany emphasized this possibility. However, the identity and motives of the perpetrators remain unknown, making it difficult to determine whether a state or state actor was involved in orchestrating the incidents.
Moscow has accused Western nations of being behind the explosions, but both Western governments and Ukraine, currently engaged in conflict with Russian forces, have denied any involvement. In March, Russia’s attempt to secure a U.N. Security Council demand for an independent inquiry into the Nord Stream blasts was unsuccessful. The joint letter from Germany, Sweden, and Denmark acknowledged the challenge of definitively determining the identity and motives of the perpetrators.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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