BERLIN - Explosions under the Baltic Sea and the rupture of major natural gas pipelines from Russia to Germany appeared to be a deliberate attack, officials said on Tuesday, deepening uncertainty about Europe's energy security amid rising prices and fears of running short of fuel over the winter.
Nord Stream 2 has never gone into service since August, and Nord Stream 1 has been shut down since August because of the apparent attack. It raises the stakes and European jitters in a simmering energy war between Russia and the West prompted by the invasion of Ukraine. Experts say that repair could take up to several months, beginning with detailed inspections of damage before work could begin.
Even if Europe succeeds in its mission of weaning itself from Russian energy, the leaks have hammered home the message that Europe and its energy infrastructure are vulnerable.
Military and security experts have warned of the dangers posed by so-called hybrid warfare, which can undermine democratic functions, disrupt normal life and cause chaos and uncertainty. Julian Pawlak, a researcher at the German Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies, said that the leaks of the Nord Stream made evident how exposed vital systems can be to outside attacks.