Russian President Vladimir Putin called the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines a terrorist attack committed at the state level. He said this in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin on the TV channel "Russia 1".

"It is very difficult for us to conduct our own investigation if we are not allowed to enter the scene of this terrorist attack. The fact that this is a terrorist attack is no longer a secret to anyone. I think everyone has already recognized this. Moreover, a terrorist attack, quite obviously committed at the state level, because no amateurs can commit such an action, "said Vladimir Putin.

The President also said that the Gazprom vessel found evidence of the possible presence of another explosive device on the Nord Stream pipe.

"At a distance of about 30 km from the site of the explosion, a pole was found, which stood in the same place where the explosion occurred ... These are the most vulnerable places in the gas pipeline. This is the joint of pipes," the Russian leader said.

He added that, according to experts, this column may be an antenna, which is needed to detonate an explosive device.

"We would like to get permission from the Danish authorities to independently or jointly with them, or better – by forming an international group of experts, explosivesmen who can work at such a depth – to conduct the necessary examination. And if necessary, and neutralize this explosive device, if it is there, of course. But we received an answer to our inquiry to the Danish authorities that they themselves should think about this... and when they deem it possible, they will give us an answer," Vladimir Putin said.

The head of state also called untenable the versions of a number of Western media that some "pro-Ukrainian groups" could be behind the terrorist attack. According to the president, explosions of such power and at such depth can be performed only by specialists who are supported by "the entire power of the state, which has certain technologies."

Letter to the UN

Earlier, russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, in a letter to the Security Council and the General Assembly of the world organization, said that Denmark, Germany and Sweden refused to cooperate with Russia in the investigation of the explosion of gas pipelines.

From the document it follows that Moscow, in particular, offered Denmark, Germany and Sweden to create joint investigative groups, but was refused.

Nebenzia's letter was sent to the Security Council and the UN General Assembly along with a copy of Russia's correspondence with Germany, Denmark and Sweden on the investigation of sabotage on pipelines. According to the diplomat, it follows from these documents that Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm do not share information with Moscow about the progress of the investigation.

"These countries claim that "the Russian authorities are informed about the ongoing investigation by sabotage." This is completely untrue. In fact, the authorities of Denmark, Germany and Sweden rejected without any satisfactory explanation all proposals for cooperation in identifying the perpetrators of attacks on pipelines, as well as the circumstances around them, which the Russian Federation proposed," Nebenzia said.

The fact that Western countries refuse to cooperate with the Russian Federation in the matter of the investigation was previously stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to him, Moscow sent several requests on this matter to Germany, Denmark and Sweden, but did not receive a response from them.

"Both publicly and in writing, on behalf of our Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, we sent appeals to his colleagues in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. We sent a large number of official diplomatic notes to these countries asking for answers and to allow us to participate in the inspection of the section of gas pipelines that were the object of a terrorist act. No clear reaction, except that they will figure it out themselves, "Lavrov said on March 10 in an interview with the program "The Great Game" on the First Channel.

  • Vassily Nebenzia
  • AP
  • © Seth Wenig

According to him, there was no response to the September letters of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin from Western countries.

"It's about mannerisms, but not only. I think that here, in addition to manners, the confusion of these countries is also hidden. They do not know what to object to, especially after S. Hersh (the author of the journalistic investigation of the explosions at the sp. - RT) published the results of his research and promised to continue publishing additional assessments, additional conclusions. For us, this was an additional factor that forced us to introduce a UN Security Council resolution, which is now being discussed and which we will definitely put to a vote. We want investigations, "the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry quoted Sergey Lavrov as saying.

There is no progress in the investigation

It is worth noting that at the moment Russia is developing a draft UN Security Council resolution on the international investigation of sabotage on Nord Streams. It is known that the document will provide for the creation of a special commission under the auspices of the Secretary General of the world organization António Guterres. The text of the resolution is planned to be submitted to the Security Council before the end of March.

  • Maria Zakharova
  • RIA Novosti
  • © Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

As the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted on March 13, "the Russian delegation held four rounds of negotiations, trying to develop a text acceptable to all members of the Security Council." According to her, the search for "a much-needed compromise will continue, given the importance of identifying the masterminds and perpetrators of the terrorist attack."

The diplomat also drew attention to recent information that during the survey of one of the pipeline lines in the exclusive economic zone of Denmark, "at a distance of 30 km from the explosion site, an object was found that is not part of the Nord Stream structure, but may be an element of an explosive device."

As Maria Zakharova notes, this finding once again "emphasizes the urgent need for the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the establishment by the UN Secretary-General of an appropriate commission in order to shed light on all the circumstances of the sabotage so that this does not happen again in the future."

The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry added that the possible obstruction of the creation of such a commission by Western countries will indicate that they are trying to prevent the establishment of the truth in the investigation of sabotage on the joint venture.

"The departure of the countries of the collective West from constructive work on the draft resolution, given their refusal to allow Russia to investigate, will be evidence of deliberately created obstacles in establishing the truth," the diplomat concluded.

Meanwhile, there is no progress in the investigation conducted by European countries. This was announced on March 14 by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.

"No progress (in the investigation. - RT) no. You know that we will continue to insist on an investigation with our participation, "TASS quoted him as saying.

"Under military cover"

Recall that three lines of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were undermined in September 2022.

The Russian Federation regarded the attacks on pipelines as an act of international terrorism, and also pointed out that the United States could be behind the sabotage as the most interested party in this crime.

  • Consequences of the undermining of Nord Streams
  • AP
  • © Swedish Coast Guard

In February 2023, American journalist Seymour Hersh also announced Washington's guilt. He published an investigation saying that the Us mined Nord Stream in June 2022, and in September the Norwegian Navy remotely activated explosive devices.

According to analysts, the version about the guilt of the United States is the most plausible.

"The United States is behind the terrorist attacks on the pipelines, because no one but them has the ability to technically implement it. The whole operation took place under military cover and with the participation of military services that are related to Washington or London, "said Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, in a conversation with RT.

For this reason, analysts say, the West, led by Washington, is not interested in conducting an objective investigation with the participation of representatives of Russia.

"The West is trying to create the media picture it needs, so cooperation with the Russian Federation is not at all beneficial to them. They are not at all interested in the investigation being conducted objectively, and its results were recognized by both our and their experts," said Vladimir Bruter.

Analysts believe that it was to create a media picture necessary for Washington, the Western media recently published, citing "sources", information that the pipelines were allegedly blown up by the Ukrainians.

"Dmitry Peskov, who called these reports a planting and an attempt to distract attention, is absolutely right. The West needed to come up with a version to deflect suspicion. After all, if it is confirmed that the terrorist attack was arranged by the special services of Great Britain and the United States, then this can be equated with an attack on Russia, which will entail retaliatory actions, "said Alexei Podberezkin, director of the Center for Military-Political Studies, in an interview with RT.

Experts call Russia's raising the issue of investigating sabotage at the UN level a logical step. However, according to Alexei Podberezkin, Western countries are likely to veto the Russian draft resolution in the UN Security Council.

In turn, Vladimir Bruter noted that Germany, Sweden and Denmark, even if such a resolution is adopted, will be able to interfere with the investigation.

"If this resolution is approved in some form, it will still not allow an investigation to be conducted on the sovereign territory of certain countries. The UN cannot insist in this case that the investigation be conducted in one way or another, "the expert concluded.