Russian Security Council deputy head Dmitry Medvedev has accused Western nations of “complicity” in undermining the Nord Stream project, further escalating tensions between Russia and the West. In a Telegram statement on Wednesday (June 14), Medvedev highlighted evidence that has allegedly exposed Western interference in the crucial energy infrastructure to justify Russia’s potential extreme retaliating measures against the West.
In a stern threat to Western infrastructure, he said: “Based on the evidence of Western complicity in undermining the Nord Stream, Russia has no reason to refrain from destroying the enemy’s cable communications on the ocean floor.”
Such a move could disrupt international communications networks, impacting businesses, governments, and individuals worldwide.
Medvedev’s threat to target submarine cables adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing tensions between Russia and the Western world. It raises concerns about the potential escalation of cyber warfare and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in an interconnected world.
The Nord Stream pipeline, a significant energy project designed to transport natural gas from Russia to Western Europe, has long been a subject of geopolitical contention. Critics argue that the project would increase European dependence on Russian energy supplies, thereby compromising regional security. However, Russia has consistently maintained that the pipeline serves as a reliable and efficient energy route, benefiting both parties involved.
Last September, there were detonations that caused damage to both Nord Stream 1 and the recently constructed Nord Stream 2 pipelines. These pipelines serve the purpose of transporting gas from Russia to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. The project had already been canceled by Germany due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to reports from US media, there were indications that Washington had prior knowledge of a Ukrainian plan to sabotage the gas pipelines.
However, Kyiv has vehemently denied any involvement in the destruction of the pipelines.
Medvedev, one of Putin’s closest allies, has made previous threats directed at the United Kingdom. In late May, he stated that British officials have become “legitimate targets” for Russia.
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His comments came after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Ukraine had the right to “project force beyond its borders” into Russia to resist Mr Putin’s invasion.
In response to the Foreign Secretary, Mr Medvedev said: “The goofy officials of the UK, our eternal enemy, should remember that within the framework of the universally accepted international law which regulates modern warfare, including the Hague and Geneva Conventions with their additional protocols, their state can also be qualified as being at war.
“Today, the UK acts as Ukraine’s ally, providing it with military aid in the form of equipment and specialists, i.e., de facto, is leading an undeclared war against Russia.
“That being the case, any of its public officials (either military, or civil, who facilitate the war) can be considered as a legitimate military target.”
