Day 218: Fourth Leak Reported on Nordstream Pipelines; US to More Than Double Ukraine's HIMARS Capabilities
A fourth leak on the Nordstream pipelines was reported on Thursday, after blasts earlier in the week caused unknown quantities of methane to escape into the Baltic Sea. Sweden's coast guard told the country's TT news agency that they have a vessel at the site of the leak [...]
Facts
- A fourth leak on the Nordstream pipelines was reported on Thursday, after blasts earlier in the week caused unknown quantities of methane to escape into the Baltic Sea. Sweden's coast guard told the country's TT news agency that they have a vessel at the site of the leak, adding that all four leaks were in international waters – two near Sweden and two near Denmark.
- Some European officials and energy experts have alleged Russia was responsible, while others warned against apportioning blame until a full investigation has been carried out. Meanwhile, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday alleged – without providing evidence – that "US intelligence services" were involved.
- Disputing that the sites of the explosions were in neutral waters, Zakharova said: "It happened in the trade and economic zones of Denmark and Sweden." She added: "They are countries that are completed controlled by the US intelligence services." Meanwhile, NATO on Thursday issued a statement in which they said all information pointed to "deliberate, reckless, and irresponsible acts of sabotage," adding the alliance was prepared to defend its energy infrastructure.
- Elsewhere, the US on Wednesday unveiled a $1.1B arms package to Ukraine – including 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher systems. The US previously committed 20 HIMARS to Ukraine, which are believed to have been instrumental in plugging Ukraine's artillery deficit, and during its recent counteroffensives. Russia claims to have destroyed six, but this statement could not be independently confirmed.
- On Wednesday, the US also urged American citizens in Russia with dual nationality to immediately leave the country, warning that Russia may refuse to acknowledge their US citizenship, deny them US consular assistance, or even conscript dual nationals to fight as part of Russia's mobilization drive. Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Poland all also issued similar advice to dual nationals living in Russia on Wednesday.
- On the ground, Ukrainian officials said Russian shelling killed nine civilians and injured dozens more in the last 24 hrs. Three civilians were killed in Dnipropetrovsk, while six civilians were killed in Donetsk. Russian shelling was also reported in the regions of Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. At Babyn Yar, the site of Nazi atrocities in WWII, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the victims on the 81st anniversary of the mass executions.
Sources: Associated Press, MSN, Yahoo, New York Post, and Ukrinform.
Narratives
- Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Politico. If Russia's role in these pipeline attacks is confirmed, then Europe's energy crisis is entering a new and dangerous phase. If Russia targets Western energy and communication infrastructure under the sea, it could draw the US and NATO into direct conflict with the Russian Navy, raising a host of security concerns.
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. Attempts to pin these attacks on Moscow are typical of Washington's thinking, particularly in light of the fact that US warships were sighted near the location of the blasts a day prior. We have to ask who really benefits the most from attacks on Russian gas routes, particularly in light of Pres. Biden commenting that he would "bring an end" to Nord Stream 2.
