Chris Lange, FISM News
Moscow sought to blame the U.S. for three leaks from two gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea on Wednesday. Russia’s FSB security service said it has launched an “international terrorism” probe against Washington, citing “intentional actions” to damage the pipelines, Reuters reported.
“Biden is obliged to answer the question of whether the U.S. carried out its threat,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on social media, referring to President Joe Biden’s February vow to shut down Nord Stream 2 if Russia invaded Ukraine.
“If Russia invades…then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it." – President Joe Biden.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) September 27, 2022
A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson dismissed the investigation, saying “We all know Russia has a long history of spreading disinformation and is doing it again here.”
Earlier, Russia’s foreign ministry said that leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines occurred in a zone controlled by US intelligence services.
Russia’s probe announcement came as leaking gas bubbled up in the Baltic Sea for a third day after suspected explosions tore through undersea pipelines built by Russia and European partners to send natural gas to Europe.
Meanwhile, the Swedish coast guard on Thursday announced the discovery of a fourth leak off the coast of southern Sweden.
“We have leakage at two positions” off Sweden, coast guard spokesperson Mattias Lindholm, adding that there are two more off of Denmark.
Several European leaders have blamed Tuesday’s Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipeline leaks on Russian sabotage — an accusation they say is bolstered by news that the ruptures were preceded by large explosions.
The leaks have fueled geopolitical tensions and sent natural gas prices soaring in Europe, worsening an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine as the cold winter months are drawing near.
Sweden’s intelligence agency on Thursday announced that it had launched an investigation into the massive leaks in the Baltic Sea, referring to them as “aggravated sabotage” by Russia hours after the EU called the damage a “deliberate act.”
Many, however, are asking what Russia could possibly have to gain from blowing up its own pipelines, which were massive money-makers for the country. Historian and former British ambassador ridiculed the claims on Twitter.
The Nordstream 2 pipeline allows Russia to send gas to Western Europe without paying transit fees to Ukraine and Poland.
Russia just completed it in the teeth of massive opposition from Ukraine, Poland and USA.
Now they are trying to convince you it was Russia who blew it up 🤣🤣— Craig Murray – (@CraigMurrayOrg) September 27, 2022
Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council said it will grant Russia’s request for a meeting on Friday to discuss the leaks.
“As the current Security Council president France has informed us today that Russia has requested a meeting about the Nord Stream leaks and this meeting is being planned for Friday,” Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde told a press conference.