‘Suspicious object’ discovered under the Nord Stream 2 pipeline by Danish researchers

Danish researchers have discovered a ‘suspicious object’ under the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Black Sea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said a ship leased by Russian energy company Gazprom had found an antenna-like object about 30 kilometers from where the Nord Stream pipelines exploded last year.

That’s what he claimed the object could be an explosive as he warned that another explosion could occur on the pipelines.

“Experts believe that this could be an antenna to receive a signal to detonate an explosive, which can be placed under the pipeline system,” Putin said.

Denmark acknowledged today that a ‘device’ had been found, but claimed it poses no current risk. “The assessment of our authorities is that there is no immediate safety risk and therefore no danger to life or shipping,” said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

In this file photo taken September 27, 2022, this handout photo released by the Danish Defense Command shows the gas leak at the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines connecting Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea were hit by a series of unexplained explosions last September, in what Moscow called an act of “international terrorism.”

Putin today dismissed allegations as “pure nonsense” that Ukrainians could be behind the explosions that damaged Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last year, pointing the finger again at the US

It comes as Denmark said it was investigating whether the ‘object’ found close to the only remaining intact Nord Stream gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea posed any safety or environmental risks.

“Given the location of the object, relevant authorities are currently assessing safety and environmental considerations,” the Danish foreign ministry wrote in a letter to the Russian foreign ministry via its embassy in Copenhagen.

On Tuesday, the ministry said the assessment by the relevant authorities concluded that the object posed no immediate security threat and that there is no immediate threat to shipping traffic or people in the area.”

“We have asked the Danish authorities about a request to cooperate or form an international group of experts and specialists,” Putin said in an interview with state broadcaster Rossiya-1.

“The answer, as I said, was vague. Simply put, no answer. They told us to wait.’

A TV reporter asked him if this could be part of a ‘terrorist attack’ on Nord Stream.

Putin replied: “Yes, yes, yes, judging by everything. There were several explosives, something exploded and something didn’t. For what reasons is not clear.’

A view of the damaged Nord Stream pipeline from a series of explosions last year

Gazprom had sent photos of the device to Danish authorities and held talks with the embassy in Russia, Rasmussen said.

“It has also been followed up with a direct investigation into our embassy in Russia. Of course we take it very seriously and it is being investigated,” Rasmussen added.

Last week, the newspaper Die Zeit reported that German investigators suspected that yacht Andromeda, owned by a Ukrainian, was used to plant the explosives on the pipeline.

In Siberia, Putin said the explosions – which led to significant gas leaks – had been carried out at the “state level”.

He dismissed claims that an autonomous pro-Ukrainian group was responsible as “complete nonsense.”

Russia said in November it would hand over “evidence” that Britain staged explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

TV propagandists have repeatedly blamed the British secret services or the Royal Navy for an alleged attack.

Nord Stream 2 was built to supply Europe with gas, but NATO countries are looking for alternative supplies after Putin’s invasion of the sovereign state of Ukraine.