The Nord Stream Pipeline, a Russian-owned pipeline running through the Baltic Sea, had two undersea leaks which were caused by explosions on September 26th.  The European Union (EU) has described this action as a Russian “terrorist attack” and investigations have ensued.

The Nord Stream Pipeline supplies Europe with oil, but had been inactive because Russia cut supplies during the war in Ukraine.  Despite no oil, there was still high-pressure natural gas contained inside both lines.

Danish and German officials reported a drop in pressure within the lines late in the day.  Danish authorities warned ships to avoid the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, near where the leaks were occurring.  These pressure drops only could have been caused by holes in the lines.

Above the pipeline, the sea boiled with tremendous amounts of methane gas spewing to the surface.  One of these was bubbling leaks spread over one kilometer wide in diameter.  The smaller leak was about 200 meters in diameter, both having disastrous consequences for the surrounding sea.

Climate scientists are appalled by the “reckless release” of natural gas into the environment, as they say.  They claim the amounts of greenhouse gasses released amount to an “environmental crime.”

Sweden’s Security Service has investigated the matter and is beginning to strengthen the argument of Russian tampering.  Both Swedish and Danish authorities concluded there were two or more explosions.  Their magnitude was estimated at 2.3 and 2.1 on the Richter Scale and would have required “several hundred kilos” of explosives.

Seismologists, scientists studying seismic waves in materials, have confirmed explosions were the cause.  “There is no doubt that these were explosions,” said Bjorn Lund, representing Sweden’s National Seismology Center.

The damage to both Nord Stream 1 and 2 was “an act of aggression” towards the EU, said Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhaylo Podolak.  The Kremlin has denied involvement in the matter, calling such accusations “stupid.”

The EU is still piecing together evidence of what caused the pipeline to leak, but according to investigators, Russia’s involvement becomes more evident with each passing day.  No matter who is at fault, the inevitable reparations won’t be stopped.  The Surrounding sea around the leaks has reopened to the public.  Engineers will have to work diligently and carefully to fix the Nord Stream pipeline since it sits under one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.