Russian Navy ships spotted near Nord Stream leaks

A FOURTH LEAK ON THE NORD STREAM PIPELINES WAS DISCOVERED THURSDAY, AUTHORITIES SAY IT’S LIKELY THE RESULT OF MORE SABOTAGE.

THE DISCOVERY COMES ON THE SAME DAY NEWS BROKE THAT RUSSIAN NAVY SHIPS, INCLUDING SUBMARINES, WERE SEEN IN THE AREA OF THE LEAKS.

THERE’S A GENERAL CONSENSUS THE LEAKS IN THE NORD STREAM PIPELINES WERE CAUSED BY EXPLOSIONS, POSSIBLY USING DRONES OR SOME SORT OF DEVICE TRIGGERED REMOTELY.

NOW, INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING INTO THE PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN NAVY SUPPORT SHIPS IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEAKS AROUND THE TIME THEY STARTED. A RUSSIAN SUBMARINE WAS ALSO SEEN IN THE SAME AREA LAST WEEK.

CNN WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT ON THE RUSSIAN NAVY SHIPS.

A DANISH MILITARY OFFICIAL SAID IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE RUSSIAN SHIPS OPERATING IN THE AREA, BUT THE PRESENCE OF THE SHIPS SO CLOSE TO THE LEAKS DOES CAST MORE SUSPICION ON RUSSIA.

THE PRIME MINISTERS OF DENMARK AND SWEDEN SAID THE EXPLOSIONS WERE THE RESULT OF DELIBERATE ACTIONS, BUT THEY STOPPED SHORT OF OUTRIGHT BLAMING RUSSIA.

U.S. AND EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIA IS THE ONLY NATION WITH THE RESOURCES AND MOTIVATION TO SABOTAGE THE PIPELINES.

WESTERN LEADERS THINK PUTIN IS TAKING A GAMBLE THAT IF ENERGY COSTS RISE ENOUGH, AND WITH WINTER APPROACHING, EUROPEANS MIGHT BALK AT THE IDEA OF ISOLATING RUSSIA ECONOMICALLY.

RUSSIA IS DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE LEAKS. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE KREMLIN CALLED THE ALLEGATIONS PREDICTABLY STUPID AND ABSURD.

RUSSIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY WENT FURTHER AND SAID THE LEAKS OCCURRED IN WATERS COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY U.S. INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, IMPLYING AMERICAN SPIES COULD BE BEHIND THE PIPELINE SABOTAGE.

THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFERED NO EVIDENCE TO BACKUP THOSE CLAIMS.