Putin announced the threat of a new explosion on Nord Stream

Russian President Vladimir Putin has found a pole antenna in a body of water near the site of the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

According to him, “Gazprom”, which conducted research with the consent of Denmark, did not limit itself to examining the explosion site itself – the ship sailed on and after 30 km found a suspicious column at the junction of the pipes. “Specialists believe that it may be an antenna to receive a signal to activate an explosive device that may be embedded in this pipeline system,” he said (quoted by Interfax).

Putin said Russia had proposed creating an international team of experts to investigate the area where the Nord Stream was blown up and search for possible new explosives, but received a vague answer. “We could go down, together, transparently, so that everyone understands the place and, if there really is some explosive, try to defuse it. <…> They said “we have to wait,” the president said.

At the same time, Putin considers the version of participation in the sabotage of the “pro-Ukrainian group” unacceptable. In his opinion, “amateurs” are not able to do this. “I’m sure that’s complete bullshit. An explosion of this kind, such a force, at such a depth can only be carried out by specialists and supported by all the power of a state that has certain technologies at its disposal,” Putin explained, adding that the United States “may be interested” in such sabotage in order to deliver its LNG to Europe . .

Putin said the explosion was so powerful that the pipe was torn off and thrown some distance. According to him, “in world practice there are no examples of repairing such systems after such incidents”, but Russia is ready to start repairing. “Theoretically, everything is technically possible”, but it will take time, resources and new technologies; moreover, European countries should “express interest” in the reconstruction of gas pipelines, the president said.

The explosion on the Nord Stream gas pipeline took place on September 26, 2022. The damaged sections lie in the exclusive economic zones of Sweden and Denmark. The law enforcement authorities of these countries and Germany have concluded that it was sabotage, but it is still unknown who is behind it.

On March 7, several Western media simultaneously reported that a “pro-Ukrainian group” may have been involved in the explosions of the pipeline. In Kiev, they said that they had nothing to do with this incident and had no information about it. The Kremlin considered the articles stuffed and an attempt to divert attention from the real organizers of the subversion.