Gazprom says NATO mine destroyer was discovered at Nord Stream 1

A spokesperson for Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Monday that a NATO mine destroyer had been discovered at the Nord Stream 1 offshore gas pipeline in 2015.

The spokesperson, Sergei Kupriyanov, said the device was pulled out and rendered harmless by the Swedish arm forces. 

Gazprom has been at the centre of geopolitical disputes in recent days following a decision to end company activities in Switzerland and the temporary suspension of gas supplies to Italy. 

On Saturday, Gazprom suspended gas deliveries to Italy, blaming a transport problem in Austria.

"The reason is related to the regulatory changes that took place in Austria at the end of September," Gazprom said at the time.

Before the conflict in Ukraine, Italy imported 95 percent of the gas it consumes -- about 45 percent of which came from Russia.

[Reuters]