According to Austin, the Pentagon has contacted the relevant departments of Finland and Estonia about the damage to the gas pipeline.
"I can say that we have offered help to Finland - everything they need to conduct an investigation," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
The head of the Finnish Center for Combating Hybrid Threats, Jukka Savolainen, admitted that the gas pipeline could have been damaged due to the anchor.
On October 8, the gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down due to a possible leak. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said the damage could be caused by an external impact.
At the same time, the Norwegian Seismological Foundation NORSAR reported that on the night of October 8, a probable explosion was recorded in Norway in the area of the gas pipeline.