Gas bubbles from the Nord Stream 2 leak reaching surface of the Baltic Sea in the area shows disturbance of well over one kilometre diameter near Bornholm, Denmark, Sept 27, 2022. A handout photo.STOCKHOLM/Copenhagen — Europe was investigating on Tuesday what Germany, Denmark and Sweden said were attacks which had caused major leaks into the Baltic Sea from two Russian gas pipelines at the centre of an energy standoff.
Russia, which slashed gas deliveries to Europe after the West imposed sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, also said sabotage was a possibility and that the leaks undermined the continent's energy security. Seismologists in Denmark and Sweden said they had registered two powerful blasts on Monday in the vicinity of the leaks.
"Germany is a country that knows how to defend itself. And Europe is a continent that can protect its energy infrastructure," Germany's Habeck said, adding the energy supply of Europe's largest economy was not affected. "We are keeping extra watch to make sure no ship comes too close to the site," an SMA spokesperson said.