If you google "hydrate plug" you'll find a theory the explosion was an accident. Apparently gas pipelines can get blocked if they're turned off and left with g

If you google "hydrate plug" you'll find a theory the explosion was an accident. Apparently gas pipelines can get blocked if they're turned off and left with gas in them, and inept attempts to fix it can cause an explosion. Of course, you'd think if anyone had a lot of experience with gas pipelines, it would be Russia....