The Russian draft resolution on the independent investigation of the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines failed in the UN Security Council (SC).

Only Russia, China and Brazil supported the proposal, while 12 other members of the board abstained. However, in order to pass a resolution, it needs the support of at least nine members, and that none of the veto powers – Russia, China, France, the United States, or Great Britain – block it.

"Without an objective and transparent international investigation, the truth about what happened will not be revealed"

- stated Vasiliy Nyebenzja , Russia's permanent representative to the UN, before the vote.

The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which transported natural gas from Russia to Europe via the Baltic Sea, were damaged in a sabotage operation at the end of September last year. Sweden, Denmark and Germany launched an investigation into the case, but so far it has not been possible to clarify who could have been behind the explosions. At the same time, the three countries stated in a letter addressed to the UN Security Council that the damage was caused by "powerful explosions caused by sabotage".

Both the United States and NATO classified the incident as an act of sabotage.

Billions are at stake as to who blew up the Nord Stream

The members of the UN Security Council who abstained from the vote argued that the national investigations should be conducted first before considering the involvement of the world organization.

In addition, Russia complained that it does not receive information about the ongoing national investigations, and suggested that an international expert group be formed to investigate what happened. Moscow has no way to launch its own investigation, because its experts are not allowed to the scene of the incident, which it classifies as a terrorist act.

Moscow suspects Western countries of the bombings.

"The United States had nothing to do with what happened. Point," asserted Robert Wood , the United States' deputy UN ambassador, accusing Moscow of "trying to undermine the ongoing national investigations and bias against any outcome that does not cover its predetermined political narrative."

Source: MTI

(Credit Image: Getty Images)