Arrest warrant for dive instructor over Nordstream pipeline sabotage

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

It would really cool to know all the details. Diving in the deep dark cold and murky Baltics, presumably at night, in a small weather window, possibly from an unsuitable boat - that’s quite an accomplishment.

What gear they used, how did they run deco etc., how they rehearsed. Most importantly, were they neutral or did they kneel when planting the explosives .

The border was very porous at the beginning of the war with a couple million refugees crossing one way and aid the other way, so hiding explosives would’ve been very feasible.

 

[tarponchik]

The pipeline locations weren't secret. I believe the approximate routes were marked on marine charts. And then regular commercially available sonar would allow the boat crew to see the structures well enough to drop anchor right on top of them.

This whole story might be a fabrication, but the boat operations and diving parts are at least plausible.

So you seriously believe the boat as pictured could take the dive gear and several hundred kilos of explosives? The Swedes reported shock of 2.2 magnitude on Richter scale.

 

[Nick_Radov]

So you seriously believe the boat as pictured could take the dive gear and several hundred kilos of explosives? The Swedes reported shock of 2.2 magnitude on Richter scale.

What's to "believe"? A few CCRs, small tanks for oxygen/diluent/bailout, and some bags of explosives can certainly fit on a 50ft boat. The boat would be packed full but it's possible to do for a short voyage if you don't care about crew comfort.

The energy detected by seismometers could have come at least partly from the massive release of pressurized natural gas into the water. It wasn't necessarily all from high explosives.

I don't necessarily believe the entire story as written. But the parts about boats and diving aren't impossible. We'll probably never get the full truth.

 

[lowwall]

So you seriously believe the boat as pictured could take the dive gear and several hundred kilos of explosives? The Swedes reported shock of 2.2 magnitude on Richter scale.

They wouldn't have needed anything approaching several hundred kilos of explosives to breach a pressurized pipeline.

Did you read the WSJ article linked above?

"Armed only with diving equipment, satellite navigation, a portable sonar and open-source maps of the seabed charting the position of the pipelines, the crew set out. The four divers worked in pairs, according to people familiar with the German investigation. Operating in pitch-dark, icy waters, they handled a powerful explosive known as HMX that was wired to timer-controlled detonators. A small amount of the light explosive would be sufficient to rip open the high-pressure pipes."

Traces of the HMX were found on the boat.

Six people, including 4 with rebreathers, and enough supplies for several dives, would certainly fit on a 50' (15m) cruising sailboat. This is the model that was allegedly used: BAVARIA C50 Interior | BAVARIA YACHTS

 

[lowwall]

I don't necessarily believe the entire story as written. But the parts about boats and diving aren't impossible. We'll probably never get the full truth.

Looking at the map and timeline, it appears that their stopover in Kolobrzeg, Poland took place between the setting of the the first and second set of charges. I would be surprised if some part of Poland's special forces or intelligence agencies didn't actively support this team in some way, even if was only giving them a safe place to refill tanks and pick up supplies. According to Germany, Poland was also not helpful during the part of the investigation involving the boat's movements and they also allowed (and the implication is tipped off) the crew member who was living in Poland to return to the Ukraine after Germany issued an arrest warrant for his arrest.

 

[lowwall]

What's to "believe"? A few CCRs, small tanks for oxygen/diluent/bailout, and some bags of explosives can certainly fit on a 50ft boat. The boat would be packed full but it's possible to do for a short voyage if you don't care about crew comfort.

The energy detected by seismometers could have come at least partly from the massive release of pressurized natural gas into the water. It wasn't necessarily all from high explosives.

Check out this article from last year examining the rupture at Nord Stream 2 via a drone:

Lille detalje på den ødelagte gasledning ved Bornholm sladrer om, hvordan sabotagen blev gennemført (I used Google translate to read it).

Several experts are interviewed and agree that the rupture was most probably the result of an cutting charge of a few kilos of high explosive placed on the exterior of the pipe which is at 75m depth. The pipeline was pressurized at 105 bar (1500psi) so there was a lot of energy released when it was ruptured.

Also interesting is this "When TV 2 was out at the pipeline, it took about 20 minutes to locate the pipes with sonar and send a civilian underwater drone with a gripping claw down there." So finding the pipelines is apparently not a big problem. The drone operator also said "It is certainly possible to place an explosive charge of a few kilograms with an underwater drone. If you can relatively quickly locate the pipe using sonar, an explosive charge with a magnet can be placed on the pipe's welds in a very short time. It could be done in 30 minutes." And we all know a diver is faster than a drone.

 

[broncobowsher]

Add a strong magnet and a length of rope, do a little magnet fishing. Once it hooks, very simple down line that takes you straight there.

 

[BoltSnap]

You guys are almost as much fun as the movie when/if it comes out. Please keep on writing the script

 

[also_anon_dc]

You guys are almost as much fun as the movie when/if it comes out. Please keep on writing the script

100% agree. The amount of knowledge about diving and the intersection of, literally, everything else here is impressive.

 

[tarponchik]

Add a strong magnet and a length of rope, do a little magnet fishing. Once it hooks, very simple down line that takes you straight there.

It is unlikely that magnets could help because the steel pipes are also covered with a couple of layers of plastic and a 2.4"-4.3 thick layer of concrete. magnetic force follows an inverse square law with distance.