How divers from Putin’s special ops sabotage unit could have blown up Nord Stream gas pipeline right under Nato’s noses

A CRACK force of divers from a shadowy Russian special ops unit could be behind the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline, security experts have claimed.

Spetsnaz frogmen - a secretive branch of the Russian military - and underwater drones could have been deployed to blow up the strategically-important supply route.

Huge bubbles erupted on the sea surface near the Danish island of Bornholm - a NATO member - following reports of explosions along the pipeline on Monday.

Sweden confirmed they detected two underwater explosions near to the leak sites while German gas engineers reported there was an "explosive" pressure drop in the pipeline and the pipes have been "torn open".

Western leaders have accused Russia of sabotaging the line to stoke an energy crisis in Europe ahead of winter.

And according to an independent defence analyst, it's "not out of the question" to believe Moscow might have been behind downing the pipeline right under NATO's nose.

Underwater warfare expert H I Sutton said Russia's shadowy GUGI naval unit, which is said to report directly to Vladimir Putin, may have used spy ships to carry out an attack.

The naval specialist said: "GUGI and the internet tapping subs. Today the Russian Navy has the largest fleet of spy submarines in the world. These are based in the arctic.

"They would be capable of damaging a pipe in the Baltic. However it seems improbable."

GUGI - the secretive Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research - has a mission to deliver a catastrophic blow to the West and is known to commandeer the navy's top vessels.

H I Sutton also said the underwater supply channel was in 230ft of "divable" water that could be easily reached by professional divers who could then plant bombs.

"People will also point to Russian Spetsnaz divers based in Baltic. Not out of question, but much of the info out there is out of date," he explained.

He also said Russia housed a lab developing state-of-the-art underwater drones capable of carrying out deep-sea attacks.

He said: "Russia does however have autonomous underwater vehicles.