Attack on the Baltic gas pipeline. Is Russia guilty?

Many believe Putin's saboteurs did the attack. According to those wishing to keep anonymity of sources in Helsinki, this could have been retaliation for Finland's accession to NATO, which occurred in April 2023.

The Balticconnector gas pipeline is 77 km long, runs beyond the bottom of the Gulf of Finland, connecting the Finnish port of Inkoo to the town of Paldiski in Estonia, which is located 50 km west of Tallinn. Launched in December 2019, it can transport 7.2 million cubic metres of blue fuel daily. It is the only direct link between Finland and the European Union's gas installations.

It all started on 8 October.

On October 8, morning, force dropped in the gas pipeline. Finnish operator Gasgrid and Estonian Elering took fast action, closing tube valves. That's how they prevented the fuel leak. Interferences with telecommunications cables were besides recorded. The authorities of both countries reported this alarming event on 10 October in a highly spectacular way. president of Finland Sauli Niinistö He said: “We have taken the demolition of underwater infrastructure seriously and their causes have been investigated since Sunday. It is likely that the harm to both the gas pipeline and the cable for data transmission is caused by interior factors.’ The president spoke with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, which reported: "The North Atlantic Pact shares information on harm to underwater infrastructure between Estonia and Finland and is ready to support allies".

BREAKING:

"The size of the harm to the gas pipeline is so large that it is clear what it stands from a deferate act."

Statement at the Finnish press conference on the attack against the Balticconnector pipeline pic.twitter.com/zKcRjTDeNr

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 10, 2023

On the same evening, the Finnish Prime Minister appeared at a press conference in Helsinki Petteri Orpo surrounded by police and military. He said: “According to preliminary assessments, the harm detected could not have been caused by the average operation of the pipeline or by changes in gas pressure. The spill is most likely due to external action." The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (KRP) initially stated that no evidence of detonation was found. However, the Norwegian Seismological Institute Norsar stated that a "probable explosion" was detected off the coast of Finland, which occurred on 8 October at 1.20 a.m. It was an detonation of much little power than those which disabled the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022.

Gas pipeline and cables damaged in respective places

It is known that the gas pipeline and telecommunications cable were damaged in 2 different locations in Finland's Exclusive economical region in the Baltic. Commander of the Estonian Navy Jüri Saska stated that Balticconnector had been torn at a depth of about 60 metres. He explained: “The tube is covered with concrete, and it looks precisely like individual pulled it out and the concrete burst or fell off at the site of the damage. It's like individual pulling the tube 1 way.”

The Helsinki and Tallinn authorities guarantee that there are no problems with the supply of blue fuel. Finland has 2 floating gas-ports through which it brings gas from the United States. Estonia provided itself with supplies from a large underground warehouse in Latvia. However, after information about the harm to the installation, gas prices in Europe have increased. Finnish and Estonian officials do not officially identify the guilty. The media, however, have no uncertainty and accuse of attacking Putin's underwater saboteur infrastructure.

They remind us that a Russian investigation ship with a transponder disabled was orbiting the scene of the alleged assassination.

"After blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines, it was wondered what Russia could do next. The answer can now be found at the bottom of the Baltic," wrote the Finnish paper "Iltalehti". Finnish MP, Retired General Pekka Toveri believes that if Moscow's work is proven, even more drastic economical sanctions should be imposed on it. Only the Russian services can mask themselves perfectly, leave false leads, throw work on others.