German media report, based on assessment by security specialists, that the leak must have been caused by professional sabotage by 'a state', saying that the damage can only have been caused by divers and special units.
Certainly, as I wrote, that was at the back of my mind ("... (probably) ..."). The Russians (also the Americans, certainly, but not sure if they have any decent motives in this case) do possess and have apparently exercised the ability to interfere with submarine infrastructure of various kinds, and would find it fairly simple to knock a few holes in the pipe. Or find it somewhat less simple to do something else (carefully cut into the pipe and 'block it', or even splice a secret remote-operation valve-section for various conceivable reasons) and thus mess the intended operation up and have to just scarper. But the first reports I heard were just (one) Nordstream 2 being affected.
If, as reported, it's across at least three pipes (across both Nordstream sets) then it's certainly much less probable to be an accident (anchor-drag?) or especially a failure (welding fracture?). And,
if it's a secret operation, then its location beyond the borders of Russia makes it either Russia
or someone trying to make it look like a botched-job by Russia, because of the overall mindgames that must be required at this level on intrigue.
Nordstream2edgy4me!!!