In an interview with the Reuters news agency on Wednesday, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkurn says that there were very strong forces that led to the damage to the Balticconnector pipeline. Balticconnector runs between Ingå in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia, and has been in operation since 2020. The pipeline connects the northern European gas network. During the night to Sunday, the pressure dropped, and the gas operator Gasgrid ascertained that there was a break in the pipe. A data cable is also damaged. Both the Swedish National Insurance Police and the Defense Forces in Finland are investigating the matter. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (left) and Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur at a press conference in Tallinn on Tuesday. Photo: Sergei Grits / AP Severely damaged Estonian authorities have now examined the pipeline, and Hanno Pevkurn says that both the pipeline itself and the surrounding concrete are severely damaged. The area where the damage has occurred is several tens of nautical miles from the Finnish and Estonian coasts. The leak on the gas pipeline is in the Finnish economic zone, while the data cable has been damaged in the Estonian economic zone. – After a preliminary assessment, the damage cannot have occurred as a result of normal use or pressure fluctuations. It is likely that the damage is a result of external activity, said the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday. Photo: JOHANNA GERON / Reuters Nato announces collective response The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, says that Nato will come up with a collective response if it turns out that the pipeline was targeted for attack. – If it can be proven that there was an attack on the gas pipeline, it will be met by a joint response from NATO, Stoltenberg said during a press conference before NATO’s defense ministers’ meeting on Wednesday. The pipeline between Finland and Estonia crosses the Gulf of Finland, and has been in operation since 2020. Increased preparedness at Norwegian installations On Wednesday, it became clear that Norwegian police are increasing preparedness around oil and gas installations in Norwegian waters. – We now focus more on preventive patrolling at oil and gas installations in our area, says operations manager Helge Blindheim in the West police district to Bergensavisen. Last autumn there were explosions on Nord Stream 1 and 2 in the Baltic Sea. Then the police got help from the Home Guard to keep watch at Mongstad, Kollsnes and Kårstø. So far, the West Police District has not asked for assistance from the Armed Forces. External activity In Finland, Prime Minister Orpo emphasized on Tuesday afternoon that the investigation is at a very early stage. He said that in the tense situation we have internationally now, it is very important not to jump to conclusions. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö also emphasized on Tuesday that the damage was probably due to external activity. The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö. Photo: Miguel Angelo Pereira / AP – It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipe and the communication cable is a result of external activity, President Niinistö wrote on X/Twitter. – The causes of the damage are not yet clear, the investigation continues in cooperation between Finland and Estonia. We are in constant contact with our allies. Today I had a conversation with NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Nato is ready to help in the investigation, wrote Niinistö.
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– Very strong forces caused damage to the pipeline – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
