Germany claims pressure drops of Nord Stream were a targeted attack

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The Nord Stream pipelines may have been damaged by targeted attacks and leaked as a result.

After a drastic pressure loss occurred in one of the two lines of Nord Stream 2 during the night on Monday and a leak was found in Danish territorial waters, a spokesman for the double pipeline Nord Stream 1 also reported a “severe pressure drop” on Monday evening ' recorded on both lines. The situation is now being investigated.

Research into the causes has been initiated in both cases, and the security authorities at federal level have taken on the cases. "Forensic results" cannot be expected within a short time, since the seabed has to be reached.

However, due to the timing, the three pipelines affected and the severe pressure losses in Nord Stream 1, which also indicate a large leak, the worst is expected. "We can't imagine a scenario that isn't a targeted attack," said a person familiar with the federal and federal government's assessment. It went on to say: "Everything speaks against a coincidence."

Such a suspected attack on the seabed is anything but trivial, it has to be carried out with special forces, for example navy divers, or a submarine, according to the circles informed about the first assessment of the situation.

With regard to the authorship of the alleged attacks, two main options are being discussed. First, according to initial speculation, Ukrainian or Ukraine-affiliated forces could be responsible. With the Nord Stream pipelines temporarily switched off, gas deliveries from Russia to Germany and Central Europe would only be possible via the Yamal connection via Poland or the Ukrainian pipeline network.

Second, exactly the same scenario, but as a so-called "false flag" operation by Russia, is a possible explanation for the leaks in the pipelines. This could fuel additional uncertainty and the gas price could possibly be driven up again in order to exacerbate the European energy price crisis, which had recently eased minimally.

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