Denmark Salvaging Object Near Nord Stream Two Pipeline

Denmark is retrieving an unidentified object found near a Russian gas pipeline that was damaged in an explosion last September, as investigators continue to search for those responsible for the attack.

This operation follows recent developments where German authorities searched a vessel suspected of transporting explosives used in the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines. Multiple investigations are ongoing into the origin of the explosions that targeted the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which were designed to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Nord Stream 2 AG, the Swiss-based operator of the pipeline, has agreed to help identify the object, which the Danish Energy Agency suggested could be a maritime smoke buoy—a device typically used to send distress signals. The agency stated that the object does not pose an immediate threat and plans to recover it with the assistance of Denmark’s military forces.

Western nations have increased security around energy infrastructure following the blasts, which they attribute to sabotage. The attack has sparked a series of accusations, with Russia blaming the United States, Ukraine, and Poland, calling them "beneficiaries" of the damage.

Russia has welcomed Denmark’s decision to involve Nord Stream 2 in the investigation, according to reports from the Russian state news agency. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of determining the nature of the object, which he suggested could be connected to the pipeline explosion.

Earlier this month, various news outlets reported intelligence suggesting that a pro-Ukrainian group might have been behind the explosion. The Times indicated that Western security agencies were aware of a potential Ukrainian link early on but hesitated to release their findings to avoid straining relations between Kyiv and Berlin. The New York Times also reported that U.S. agencies pointed to sabotage by a group supporting Ukraine, although opinions on the new intelligence remain divided.