Traces of undersea explosives found on yacht in probe of Nord Stream pipeline attacks, diplomats say
BERLIN — Investigators have discovered traces of undersea explosives in samples taken from a yacht that was searched as part of an investigation into the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last year, according to European diplomats who relayed the information to the United Nations Security Council.
The investigation into the pipeline attacks, which aimed to disrupt the transportation of Russian natural gas to Germany, is ongoing. It remains unclear who carried out the sabotage, and whether a state was involved.
The attacks took place as Europe sought to reduce its reliance on Russian energy sources in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The source of the sabotage has been a major international mystery.
Denmark, Sweden, and Germany have been leading the investigations into the September 26 attack. The three countries’ U.N. ambassadors have provided information on their activities thus far in a letter to the president of the Security Council.
In March, caution was urged over media reports suggesting the involvement of a pro-Ukraine group in the sabotage. German media previously reported that a yacht, rented by a Ukrainian-owned company in Poland, was used to carry out the attack. It was alleged that the vessel departed from the German port of Rostock.
German federal prosecutors declined to comment directly on these reports but confirmed that a boat was searched in January. The prosecutors stated that there was suspicion that the boat may have been used to transport explosives for the purpose of blowing up the pipelines.
The latest letter from Germany detailing their findings stated that the exact course of the yacht had not been definitively established. The letter revealed that “traces of subsea explosives were found in the samples taken from the boat during the investigation,” while refraining from providing further details.
“At this point, it is not possible to reliably establish the identity of the perpetrators and their motives, particularly regarding the question of whether the incident was steered by a state or state actor,” the letter stated. It added that all information necessary to clarify the matter would be pursued during the ongoing investigations.
The explosions caused damage to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Russia’s primary natural gas supply route to Germany, was ruptured, while the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was yet to begin operations, was also impacted.
The United States and some of its allies had previously criticized the pipelines, citing concerns over Europe’s energy security and its increasing dependence on Russian gas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian officials have accused the U.S. of orchestrating the explosions, labeling them a terror attack. However, Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attacks. The countries involved in the investigations have not commented on the potential culprits.
Moreover, since the attacks, NATO has bolstered its presence in the Baltic and North Seas, deploying numerous ships, aircraft, and undersea equipment such as drones to enhance security in the region.