The mass media reported on German investigators’ confidence that the Russians blew up the Nord Stream pipelines.

German investigators established that the explosions at the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines resulted from sabotage. The WSJ reported that officials familiar with the investigation said it was consistent with Sweden’s previous findings. So far, the investigators cannot say with certainty who is responsible, but they are working based on the assumption that Russia is behind the explosions. Moscow denies its involvement and says the explosions were a terrorist attack against Russian interests. The Swedish investigation agrees that sabotage is the most likely cause. NATO said shortly after the attacks that the gas pipelines were damaged due to sabotage but did not provide evidence or name the suspected culprits. Some German officials say that by leaving one line of Nord Stream 2 intact, Russia is trying to increase pressure on German politicians to launch Nord Stream 2. The German government said it has no plans to launch the pipeline.