A fourth leak has been detected in the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia with Europe. The news was released by the Swedish Coast Guard on Thursday, days after underwater explosions were reported earlier in the week.
“There are two leaks on the Swedish side and two leaks on the Danish side,” a Swedish Coast Guard official said, after three leaks were confirmed earlier this week on Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. According to the official, the two leaks on the Swedish side are “close to each other.”
Press reports said that the latest Nord Stream 2 pipeline leak was detected, but the Swedish Coast Guard did not confirm this information.
Sweden previously reported a leak in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline northeast of Bornholm, while Denmark confirmed a leak at Nord Stream 2 to the southeast of the island and another to the northeast over Nord Stream 1.
Large leaks cause large bubbles on the sea surface several hundred meters wide, making immediate inspection of structures impossible. in suspected sabotage It appeared after several gas leaks were detected. Moscow denied responsibility for the bombingsas well as the United States, which said Russia’s proposal to damage the pipeline was “ridiculous.”
The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the incident.
Nord Stream 1 and 2, connecting Russia with Germany, has been at the center of geopolitical tensions in recent months as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in response to Western sanctions that followed Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Although the pipelines – operated by Russian gas giant Gazprom – are currently not operational, both pipelines still contain gas.
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