Russian 'ghost ships' near Nord Stream before blast - reports

Russian ships were present before last year's Nord Stream blasts, a documentary has claimed. 

Two Nord Stream pipelines carrying gas from Russia to Europe, via the Baltic Sea, were knocked offline by underwater explosions last September. 

Several competing theories have circulated about the cause, with some attributing it to Russia and others suggesting the West or Ukraine was to blame. 

What actually happened remains unknown.  

However, in the latest episode of a series called Putin's Shadow War it is alleged there were suspicious movements of Russian ships, which could perform underwater operations, near the explosion site. 

The TV documentary, produced by Nordic broadcasters, does not directly claim Moscow was responsible, but raises pointed questions about the unusual activity of its navy. 

It claimed so-called Russian "ghost ships", including a research vessel, tugboat and a third naval ship, were in the blast zone for several hours and nearly a full day, in one case.  

They reportedly had their transmitters turned off, though the broadcasters claim their movements could still be tracked using intercepted radio communications. 

A retired British naval intelligence officer, who used to work on intercepting the Russian Baltic Fleet, tracked their whereabouts using open-source information and radio communications. 

Some in the West point the finger at Russia, though Moscow denies any involvement. 

Russia has accused the UK of "directing" the Nord Stream explosions, which destroyed a key piece of the Kremlin's energy infrastructure that gave it leverage over Europe, especially gas-hungry Germany. London has dismissed this claim as false. 

Recent reports suggest pro-Ukrainian operatives were to blame, though not the Ukrainian