Quote (NEEDdemRARES @ 27 Sep 2022 23:22)
Russia blew up its cash cow? For what?
The Nord Stream pipelines were not transporting any gas anymore to begin with. Nord Stream 2 never went into operation and Nord Stream 1 was shut down by the Russians themselves, using extremely flimsy and transparent excuses. Germany was still willing to receive Russian gas via Nord Stream 1, it was Russia which intentionally closed the gas tap.
As to what Russia/Putin stand to gain by blowing up its own pipeline, I can think of three things:
1.: Threaten Europe with gas shortages this winter. "Okay, it looks as if you might
barely get through the this winter without our gas - but that hinges entirely on Norwegian gas flowing through pipelines in the North and the Baltic Seas. Be a real shame if "something" ""happened"" to these pipelines in the deep of winter."
2.: Create uncertainty, drive up gas prices, cause strife and dissent within the Western alliance.
3.: Protect Putin from a coup by internal rivals. Ramping down the war effort partially in return for a partial lifting of the Western sanctions was a potential course of action for Russia, one which would have saved Russia's economy from a ton of further economic damage, but at the expense of Putin losing his face and, realistically, his power. Without the Nord Stream pipelines, the upside of a change in leadership is much smaller.