The US has announced the imposition of fresh sanctions on several Russia-based entities in connection with their involvement in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

The sanctions encompass Russia-based marine services and water transport entities including the state-owned maritime rescue service, and several vessels.

Additionally, Nord Stream 2, the operator of the project, and a Russia-based insurer providing insurance to companies engaged in the project have been targeted by these measures.

State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasised the US stance, stating: “We are going to continue to work and ensure that Russia is never able to weaponise its energy resources and its energy positioning for political gain.”

Nord Stream 2, constructed beneath the Baltic Sea by Gazprom to transport natural gas from the Arctic to Germany, suffered damage on 26 September 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier that year.

The responsibility for the damage has not been claimed by any party.

Prior to the invasion, the US had opposed the Nord Stream 2 project on the grounds that it would enable Russia to bypass Ukraine, potentially depriving it of significant transit fees and weakening its resistance to Russian aggression.

Some Western officials have speculated that Moscow orchestrated the destruction of its own pipelines.

Last year, the Washington Post reported on US intelligence that indicated a Ukrainian plan to attack Nord Stream 2 several months before it was damaged.

Russia has accused the US, the UK and Ukraine of being behind the explosions that severely disrupted the flow of Russian gas to the lucrative European market, although these countries have denied the allegations.