Nord Stream: Report places Russian Navy ships near pipeline explosion site

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By Gordon Corera, BBC Security Correspondent

49 minutes ago

Image source, Putin’s Shadow War

photo caption,

A former British naval intelligence officer said he used open source information to track ships

Russian ships capable of conducting underwater operations were located near where explosions later occurred on Nord Stream pipelines, according to an investigative documentary.

The ships were reportedly located using intercepted Russian Navy communications.

Underwater explosions last September caused two Nord Stream pipelines – which were built to carry gas from Russia to Europe – to stop working.

The cause of the eruptions is not clear.

In the immediate aftermath, some in the West pointed the finger at Russia, while Moscow blamed Western countries, including the United Kingdom.

Recently, there have been reports that intelligence pointed to pro-Ukrainian agents, but not the Ukrainian government itself.

Official investigations are still underway in countries close to the blast site. So far, these countries have only said that they believe the explosions were the result of sabotage and not any kind of accident.

But the latest in Putin’s TV documentary series “Shadow War” and its accompanying English-language podcast “Cold Front” offer possible evidence pointing to Russia’s involvement.

Now, the final episode focuses on what they say are suspicious ship movements in the lead-up to the Nord Stream explosions.

Image source, Danish Defense

photo caption,

Just five days before the explosions, the Russian locomotive SB-123 reportedly arrived at the site and stayed through the evening and night.

The ships are believed to include the Russian naval research vessel Sibiryakov, the tugboat SB-123, and a third ship from the Russian Navy that the media has not been able to identify by name.

These were called “ghost ships”, which had their transmitters turned off. But broadcasters say they were able to track their movements using radio intercepts sent by ships to Russian naval bases between June and September 2022.

The movements were tracked by a former British naval intelligence officer, who worked to intercept Russia’s Baltic Fleet until his retirement in 2018. This individual — who remains anonymous in the documentary — says he used open-source information and radio communications to carry out his research.

These ships are said to have been near the site of an explosion for several hours, and in one case, for nearly a full day.

One of the ships, the Siberiakov, is believed to be capable of underwater observation and mapping as well as launching a small underwater vehicle.

The former Royal Navy intelligence officer says it took an unusual navigational route in June, around where the pipeline would later explode, and changed its communications pattern to a covert receiver.

Another unnamed vessel was also present in that area the previous week in June.

The third boat, the SB-123 offshore tugboat, is said to have arrived just five days before the September explosions. Radio communications indicate that she remained there all evening and night before sailing towards Russia.

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Footage from underwater drones of damage to a Nord Stream pipeline

Satellite imagery checked by the broadcasters is said to support claims about the unusual routes, and other reports in Germany claimed it was in the area on September 21-22.

This ship can be used to support and rescue submarines and has the ability to carry out operations on the sea floor, according to experts interviewed by the broadcasters.

Last week, it emerged that the Danish military had taken 26 photos of another Russian naval vessel specializing in submarine operations near the site of the explosions.

A Danish newspaper said the SS-750 submarine rescue ship picked up four days before the explosions were about to take place. This ship can carry a small submarine.

The documentary did not say that there was conclusive evidence of what the ships were going to do or that Russia was behind the explosion. But it raises questions about the unusual nature of the activity.

Russia has consistently denied any involvement in the bombings.

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