The bubble gusher that appeared in the Baltic Sea after the rupture of the Nord Stream pipelines has subsided. Conspiracy theories over the cause of the damage are still simmering.
This week, Swedish police investigating the leaks in Nord Stream 1 and 2 found evidence of detonations. That strengthened the already strong belief that the damage resulted from deliberate acts of sabotage. Russia has denied responsibility, pushing the theory that the US and its allies caused the damage. Blaming the US for a cloak-and-dagger plot is a familiar Kremlin trope.
Regardless of who carried out the sabotage that punctured three of the four pipelines, the impact on the environment is significant.