Russia has halted the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Europe for three days of planned maintenance on an energy link that has been central to Moscow’s efforts to squeeze supplies.
Wednesday’s shutdown of the pipeline, which Russia has limited to 20 per cent of capacity since it first began cutting supplies in June, will add to anxiety in European countries as they seek to secure vital supplies ahead of the winter months.
Russia has been accused of “weaponising” energy supplies to Europe and stoking a cost of living crisis in retaliation for western sanctions linked to its invasion of Ukraine. Prices have more than doubled since Gazprom first restricted supplies three months ago.