The Russia-Ukraine War has begun

detrius

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I don't think it would make sense for Russia to sabotage those pipelines because they're a big source of income for them.

I suspect it was Poland, as the leaks are quite close to their coast and they've been the most vocal critics of those pipelines.

Among those pointing to the war in Ukraine was the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, who was speaking at the opening of a new gas pipeline between Norway and Poland. “Today we faced an act of sabotage. We don’t know all the details of what happened but we see clearly that it’s an act of sabotage, related to the next step of escalation of the situation in Ukraine,” Morawiecki said.

Poland’s foreign minister was more forthright, suggesting that the damage could be an act of provocation on behalf of the Kremlin.

“Sadly our eastern partner is constantly pursuing an aggressive political course,” the deputy foreign minister, Marcin Przydacz, said in Warsaw. “If it is capable of an aggressive military course in Ukraine, then it’s apparent that acts of provocations in western Europe also cannot be ruled out.”
 
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Sid

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Russia has a lot to gain if the pipelines are out of order IMHO.
They can put more pressure on Europe that way. That we will have enough gas for upcoming winter is still not a given fact and even if we have, that is no guaranty for next year. It is the only pressure method that Russia has left to provoke Western Europe, other than invading.
My opinion is that they want that both sides will weaken their economy and not only Russia.
 
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detrius

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Russia has a lot to gain if the pipelines are out of order IMHO.
They can put more pressure on Europe that way. That we will have enough gas for upcoming winter is still not a given fact and even if we have, that is no guaranty for next year. It is the only pressure method that Russia has left to provoke Western Europe, other than invading.
My opinion is that they want that both sides will weaken their economy and not only Russia.
But that only works if the pipelines are functional.

They can't threaten to shut them down when they're already broken. And all they would have to do is close some valves, there's no need to damage the pipes.

Nord Stream II is also 100% owned by Gazprom, Russia's state-owned energy corporation. Russia lacks the ability to maintain an infrastucture project of that magnitude by itself - so if the damage is too big, the entire pipeline is just scrap. It's just gone, perdu, futsch... "it's over Anakin".
 
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Sid

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They can play the innocent angels now: "We would really start to deliver again, but the pipe right?"
What they did with that action is giving Europe a more permanent gas problem and an attempt to keep up appearance at the same time.
 

Argent Stonecutter

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But that only works if the pipelines are functional.

They can't threaten to shut them down when they're already broken.
Weren't they already shut down?
 

Chin Rey

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And all they would have to do is close some valves, there's no need to damage the pipes.
I'm not so sure about this. Yes, the Russian government could close those valves but how would they ensure they stayed closed?
Remember how throughly corrupt Russia is. It's quite likely there was a considerable black market with people in high places in the gas companies selling gas to Europe for their own profit. Those people would certainly be in a position to reopen the calves the moment the big boss was looking another way.
 
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Chin Rey

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Sorry about the sound quality and length of this video but I think it's essential to everybody who want to understand how the Russian leadership think.

 

Aribeth Zelin

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I've heard from the spouse that Putin fled to his palace, you know, the one that's not his [supposedly]. And from somewhere else he's taken over the running of this 'special military operation'... So, I could see him ordering this, or or maybe another group within Russia doing it - I've the feeling things are not exactly stable inside Russia right now.
 
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Bartholomew Gallacher

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I don't think it would make sense for Russia to sabotage those pipelines because they're a big source of income for them.

I suspect it was Poland, as the leaks are quite close to their coast and they've been the most vocal critics of those pipelines.
Well we will never now for sure... and probably not any time soon. Fact is, that to operate in these depth you do need trained divers and equipment. Also important: some sensors of Norway's submarine detection network were sabotaged. Since these are for sure not public knowledge this narrows down the circle of potential saboteurs quite a lot.


Also look at what just passed the Fehmarn Belt on its way elsewhere: a US navy fleet, consisting of USS Kearsarge, USS Arlington and USS Gunston Hall, who had maneuvers in the Eastern Sea.


Most likely saboteurs for me are the USA and Poland, but probably we will never know.
 
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Dakota Tebaldi

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I am absolutely not being paid by the government to post this right now, but I would be posting this exact same message if I was. 🙂
 
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Soen Eber

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No rot13? No white text? No invisible pixel referencing back to an encrypted web site? Wow! Well done, even if you cannot confirm or deny you are being paid to - *catches his throat and gasps, slumping over in his chair*.

*croaks in a harsh whisper "wow you're good!" before dying*
 
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Dakota Tebaldi

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