"Taking into account that Russia uses the newly built infrastructure as a basis for expanding its military presence, it can not be ruled out that Russia is using Nord Stream 2 and Nord Stream 1 "to expand its military presence in the Baltic Sea Region, primarily its naval presence," said Gonchar.

As an example, the expert pointed out the recently built Kerch Bridge. As reported by UNIAN, the project Nord Stream 2 provides for the construction of two branches of the gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. A new pipeline around Ukraine is being built alongside the already existing Nord Stream 1.

Construction of the gas pipeline should be completed by the end of 2019. The length of the pipeline will be 1220 kilometers, it should connect the Russian Ust-Luga and the German Greifswald. On November 29, 2018 Gazprom announced the completion of the laying of pipes in the corridor of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the coastal zone of Germany. Ukraine opposes the construction of the Nord Stream 2. The US states that the Nord Stream 2 undermines the collective energy security of Europe.

Source: UNIAN