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Bottom line, there is no proof. My personal view - Russia most likely did it. My guess is that Ukraine would not damage infrastructure that mostly benefits Germany - an ally - and could stop EU aid if detected. Yes, I will write it again, the NS benefited mostly Germany.
It not even benefitted Germany anymore. When the pipelines were blown up, Germany had decided to abandon Russian gas, so all the pipelines would have been unseless anyways even if they'd still exist.
Also important to note, that 2 pipelines of NS1 were blown up but only 1 pipeline of NS2. 1 pipeline from NS2 is still intact.
And - no surprise - shortly after the explosions, Putin suggested to open the remaining NS2 pipeline.
Putin offers Europe gas through Nord Stream 2 - DW - 10/12/2022The Russian leader offered to resume gas supplies through parts of the pipelines that weren't damaged by explosions last month.
Not suspicious, that one pipeline is still intact and Putin wants to start his NS2 project to keep Germany dependent and fund his russian war machine - not suspicious at all.
A few interesting points here:
- Germany decided not to use Russian gas before the war? I do not think so, in fact they have lobbied in the EU to decide that gas "is green".
- Germany would be fine with returning to use RF gas. I know, it seems impossible today, but I give 1 year after a permanent cease fire to go back to cheap energy.
- Germany does not depend on the Russian gas, in the same sense that I do not depend on the cheapest restaurant around to eat. It is just the cheapest, as long as they do not go on an invading spree.
And some recent news, difficult to ignore even for the Muscovites who live immersed in the official juice of comfort, unconfirmed but seems that there have been explosions near two airports in Moscow.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/08/10/Russia-s-emergency-service-reports-fire-near-airport-RIA💥 Tonight, a massive explosion in Domodedovo in Moscow, where a Ukrainian drone was shot down by Russian air defense the previous night. Eyewitnesses reported active air defense again, so quite likely a successful drone strike.