Russian naval support vessels sighted near Nord Stream leaks in the Baltic Sea
Reports from CNN, citing two Western intelligence officials and a related case source, indicate that Russian naval support ships were observed in the Baltic Sea close to the sites of the Nord Stream leaks on Monday and Tuesday. The details come amid ongoing inquiries into the origins of the leaks and the surrounding maritime activity.
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There is new information about the Baltic situation. The Swedish Coast Guard has reported a fourth leak in the Nord Stream pipelines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed related claims as nonsense, framing them as a facet of Russian disinformation rather than a factual event.
The US view on responsibility remains unresolved
The connection between the ships observed and the explosions remains unclear. Investigators note that the vessels’ presence does not automatically establish blame, though it is a thread under scrutiny. An intelligence official also mentioned that Russian units were seen near the area in the previous week.
According to three U.S. officials cited by CNN, there is currently no definitive attribution regarding who may have caused the damage to the pipelines that leaked on Sunday and Monday. A Danish military official echoed that Russian ships routinely operate in this region, but their routine presence does not prove involvement in the incident.
We see them every week
— a Danish army spokesperson remarked, highlighting the recurring pattern of activity in the area.
Over recent years, Russian operations in the Baltic Sea have increased, with ongoing tests of vigilance both at sea and in the air noted by observers and regional authorities.
Investigations unfolding in Denmark and Sweden
CNN reports that Denmark and Sweden are conducting investigations into the leaks. An on-site inspection has not yet occurred, and information remains limited. An official indicated that waiting for the Danish government’s assessment could complicate access to the leak site due to pressure within the pipelines, while another source suggested that a full assessment of the incident could begin next Sunday.
Officials from Denmark and Sweden have publicly suggested that the leaks resulted from deliberate actions. On Tuesday, the Swedish security service indicated that a foreign authority was likely involved. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the leaks as clear sabotage. Although Western officials publicly discuss possibilities, no formal attribution has been made by senior officials publicly to Russia or any other state.
Denials from the Kremlin
The Kremlin has publicly rejected ties to the pipeline damage, with a spokesman calling the accusations predictably stupid and absurd. The incident involved a gas release detected Monday along two Nord Stream lines in the Baltic, specifically at one point on the Nord Stream 2 line southeast of Bornholm and at two points on the Nord Stream 1 line northeast of Bornholm. The Swedish SNSN monitoring station also reported two significant underwater explosions in the affected zones on Monday.
End of excerpt. The coverage remains under analysis while authorities balance immediate investigation needs with careful attribution considerations. This summary reflects official statements and recurring observations from maritime and security agencies, with ongoing updates as new evidence emerges.
Source: various news outlets