[yreg]

Russians have kind of the same possible motivation as everyone.

To take the option of some future DE/RU agreement regarding restoring the flow of gas off the table. To force everyone to fully commit to their current strategy.

[MichaelCollins]

> To force everyone to fully commit to their current strategy.

I agree the destruction of the pipeline does have this effect, but Russia seemingly wants NATO support for Ukraine to falter, not persist. Russia seems to want NATO to deviate from their current strategy.

[dividedbyzero]

Russia also wants the EU and especially Germany to deviate from their current "no dependency on Russian gas ever again" strategy, at least in the mid- to long term. Those pipelines could have sat there until needed.

[yreg]

The motivation to commit to strategy applies to one's own country / one's allies.

Putin might want to make sure no one pressures him to reopen the pipeline.

German leaders might want to make sure no one pressures them to reopen the pipeline.

Etc.

I'm not claiming that this was the actual motivation for the attack, of course.