Satellite images of Russian boats in the region in June show sightings of naval vessels in the area.
A Russian Navy support ship, a warship, and submarines were spotted near the Nord Stream pipelines just before the suspects of sabotage the gas supply links to Europe.
Russian submarines were seen not far from the area in the Baltic Sea, which encompasses Danish and Swedish territorial waters last week, CNN reported.
Satellite images of two Russian warships in Danish water near the pipeline were also published. Other images of ship movements are being analysed and published by the German secret service.
One theory suggests that Russia may have laid the explosives long before. Modern sea mines can be programmed to explode when they hear certain sounds.
Two Russian warships violated Danish waters north and west of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, near where the Nord Stream 1 & Nord Stream 2 pipes were struck in June.
The ship reached Danish waters around 3:30 AM on Friday morning. It left Denmark a little over 30 minutes after midnight. After the Danish navy established radio contact, it left in what Copenhagen called an unacceptable provocation.
Russia claimed that the Danes did not provide any evidence of a violation. The Covert Shores defense analysis published satellite images that broadly correspond to the Danish version.
Sources told CNN that it was not clear if the vessels were involved. A Danish official said to CNN that Russian ships regularly operate in the region.
The military official stated that they see them every week. “Russian activities in Baltic Sea have increased in recent decades.” They are testing our awareness both at sea as well as in the air.
On Thursday, NATO described the incident as “a deliberate reckless and irresponsible act or sabotage”. Investigators are investigating whether the seacraft was involved. The Swedish police have been taken over by the Sapo secret services.
Analysts suggested that divers or mini-submarines could be used to lay mines. However, analysts informed the Swedish media that it is possible to sabotage small fishing boats.
When asked about the ships, the Kremlin, denied that it was involved in any sabotage.
Russia claimed that the area was under US intelligence control and demanded an investigation.
Because of the dangers posed by methane gas bubbles (which can catch fire and sink vessels), a proper investigation could take up to two weeks.
The area is not allowed to harbour shipping or low-flying planes. Searches would be required at depths up to 80 meters.
European governments have increased security around their oil- and gas infrastructure to prevent further sabotage.
Norway, which is now the EU’s largest supplier of natural gas, is especially concerned. It was opening its new pipeline to Poland which is very close to the Nord Stream pipes that caused the explosions.
Companies reported more instances of unidentified drones in the vicinity of its offshore energy infrastructure and people driving near other assets with cameras.
Eldri Holo of Norway’s Water and Energy Directorate said that “things have been reported and seen that are not normally experienced”. She refused to provide details about the locations or numbers of sightings.
She told Europower that she had observed cars and people with cameras behaving oddly.
Image @CovertShores
