The Swiss-based company building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany has fired all 106 staff after being targeted US sanctions.
The German government moved to halt approval for the $11bn (£8.2bn) pipeline last week before President Joe Biden then directed his administration to impose sanctions on the operating company.
In a further blow, major backer Shell announced it would pull out of the project.
The Gazprom-owned company denied reports it had filed for bankruptcy.
Source: Nord Stream 2 pipeline fires all its staff as British Gas owner abandons Russia
