“Denmark believes ‘deliberate actions’ caused big leaks in two natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, and seismologists said powerful explosions preceded the leaks. European leaders and experts pointed to possible sabotage amid the energy standoff with Russia provoked by the war in Ukraine. Although filled with gas, neither pipeline is currently supplying it to Europe…

NATO said that a series of leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Europe were the result of acts of sabotage and that attacks on its members’ infrastructure would be met with a collective response from the military alliance.

The Biden administration on Wednesday dismissed as “Russian disinformation” suggestions that the United States was behind the apparent sabotage of two major Russia-to-Europe natural gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea.

“The idea that the United States was in any way involved in the apparent sabotage of these pipelines is preposterous,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a briefing. “It is nothing more than a function of Russian disinformation and should be treated as such.”

European countries say they will ramp up security around oil and gas installations after the suspected sabotage of two major pipelines.

The EU, US and Nato have suggested damage to the pipelines between Russia and Germany was deliberate, but have not blamed Russia directly.

Russia has said it was not involved, and asked if the US was instead.

Russia has previously been accused of using gas supplies as a weapon against the West over its support for Ukraine.

The leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were discovered on Monday and Tuesday.

Moscow dismissed accusations that it was behind the alleged Tuesday sabotage of Nord Stream energy pipelines as "stupid and absurd" Wednesday.

Accusations have flown after three unprecedented leaks sprang from the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines at the bottom of the Baltic Sea on Monday. Germany, the U.S. and Russia have all agreed that sabotage is a likely or possible cause for the leaks, but Ukraine has outright accused Moscow of carrying out the deed.

Leaders of several Western countries have said leaks in two Russian gas pipelines are likely the result of sabotage, vowing a strong response as investigations continue.

Swedish authorities sounded the alarm on Tuesday about leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines – both of which run under the Baltic Sea near Sweden and Denmark, and have been major flashpoints in the energy war between Europe and Russia.

Neither pipeline was in operation at the time the leaks were found, but both still contained gas under pressure.

Russia has completely halted gas supplies to Europe via a major pipeline, saying repairs are needed.

The Russian state-owned energy giant, Gazprom, said the restrictions on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would last for the next three days.

Russia has already significantly reduced gas exports via the pipeline.

It denies accusations it has used energy supplies as a weapon of war against Western countries.

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline stretches 1,200km (745 miles) under the Baltic Sea from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to north-eastern Germany.

France accused Moscow on Tuesday of using energy supplies as "a weapon of war" after Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) cut deliveries to a major French customer and said it would shut its main gas pipeline to Germany for three days this week.

European governments are trying to coordinate a response to soaring energy costs for businesses and households and to fill storage facilities ahead of peak demand in the winter.

Russia has resumed pumping gas to Europe through its biggest pipeline after warnings it could curb or halt supplies altogether.

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline restarted following a 10-day maintenance break but at a reduced level.

On Wednesday, the European Commission urged countries to cut gas use by 15% over the next seven months in case Russia switched off Europe's supply.

Russia supplied Europe with 40% of its natural gas last year.

European gas prices have risen after the approval of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany was halted because of Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The price of oil has also increased sharply this week.

With a quarter of the European Union's petroleum oil imports coming from Russia, along with almost half of its gas, there are concerns that Russia could restrict supplies in retaliation for measures taken against it.

Russia supplies about 40% of the EU’s natural gas imports. Most of the rest comes from Norway and Algeria.