> 2- Russia: they are losing the war and now throwing conscripts with not a day of training on the front. That's pretty desperate move to say the least. Whenever they escalate, they see that as a chance to break unity among the west. Blowing up their (now useless) pipeline is in line with another desperate move: at least try to make something useful out of it. If Russia loses the war, Putin is just dead (at least politically). He can't care less about Russia economy at the moment.
You forgot to mention how Russia is supposed to profit from this whole situation.
> Blowing up their (now useless) pipeline is in line with another desperate move: at least try to make something useful out of it
Isn't it obvious what the advantages would be for Russia?
IF the Russians did it they get ;
1.Blowing up NS1&2 creates more energy and gas uncertainty in Europe in a period where they need to put on the pressure and try to limit military support for Ukraine as they are loosing the war in Ukraine. Its an assertive move.
2.They get to do big power signaling with a direct threat to other infrastructure in the north sea which is significant and all of which supplies Europe with gas.
I would also like to point out that the Russians [unconfirmed but its basically what went down] sank the passenger ferry Estonia with 852 dead because it was used in the transport of stolen military hardware.
So these explosions is not out of the realm of possibility - quite the opposite - I would say that it is basically how the Russians operate - with force.
You forgot to mention how Russia is supposed to profit from this whole situation.
> Blowing up their (now useless) pipeline is in line with another desperate move: at least try to make something useful out of it
Specifically what?