NYTimes is implying continuous sabotage operations by Russia.
Which have been the main documented sabotage attacks?
• The Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines transporting Russian gas to Europe were damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022, rendering most of the pipelines inoperable.
• Since late 2022 and especially through 2024-2025, there have been multiple suspected sabotage attacks on undersea cables (telecommunications, power) and pipelines connecting Nordic countries, the Baltic states, Germany, and Russia.
• The damaged infrastructure includes gas pipelines (Nord Stream, TurkStream) and telecommunications cables linking Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, and Germany.
Who lost because of the sabotage?
• Europe suffered significant disruption in natural gas supplies from Russia, leading to energy shortages and higher prices.
• The pipelines are majority-owned by Russian state gas company Gazprom; Russia lost the ability to transport gas to Europe through these routes.
• European countries relying on these pipelines and cables for energy and communication faced challenges and increased vulnerability.
• The sabotage heightened tensions and underscored Europe’s dependence on Russian energy prior to the war and subsequent sanctions.
Thus the primary financial loss was on Russia, as it was exporting the gas from those pipelines. Europe was forced to make up its gas requirement from other sources.
Who would be the prima facie perpetrator of these sabotage attacks? Who had the profit motive?
Certainly not Russia.
Yet, the international press since that day has placed the allegation squarely on Russia. Even as German authorities later issued a warrant for a Ukrainian native. Russia itself blames this on NATO and Ukraine. But who cares? The media first decides its agenda, and then goes about its business.
