MOSCOW/LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) - Nord Stream's

insurers have denied that their policies provide cover for gas

pipelines damaged by blasts in 2022 because the damage was

caused by war, in their written defence to a lawsuit filed at

London's High Court.

Nord Stream is seeking more than 400 million euros ($427

million) from its insurers over the explosions which ruptured

pipelines designed to transport Russian gas to Germany.

It named Lloyd's Insurance Company and Arch Insurance (EU)

DAC as defendants in the suit.

Sweden - which in February dropped its investigation - and

Germany have both found traces of explosives relating to the

incident that ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2

pipelines, suggesting it was a deliberate act.

In their written defence, dated April 8 and first reported

by Kommersant daily on Thursday, the insurers said Nord Stream's

policy did not cover damage "directly or indirectly" resulting

from war, military actions or the detonation of explosives.

The insurers also stated that the policy does not cover any

damage which happened "under the order of any government".

"The defendants will rely on ... the fact that the explosion

damage could only have - or, at least, was more likely than not

to have - been inflicted by or under the order of a government,"

the insurers' lawyer said.

Gazprom, which built the pipelines, Nord Stream AG, Lloyd's

and Arch did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Russia and the West, at loggerheads over Moscow's conflict

with Ukraine, have pointed fingers at one another. Each has

denied any involvement, and no one has taken responsibility.

($1 = 0.9359 euros)