Ukraine Accused of Sabotaging Nord Stream in Wall Street Journal Report

Exclusive Report: Ukraine’s Involvement in Nord Stream Sabotage

The Wall Street Journal recently published an exclusive report implicating Ukrainian agents in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022.
This report coincided with the issuance of an arrest warrant by German authorities for a Ukrainian citizen suspected of the sabotage.

Nord Stream 1 and 2 were key gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany through the Baltic Sea.
Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia stood as Germany’s largest supplier of oil and gas.

Even two and a half years after the invasion began, European Union countries continue to import billions of euros worth of Russian fossil fuels.

Criticism of the pipelines in the West predates the war, with concerns over Germany’s increasing dependence on Russia.
Following the invasion, as Berlin sought to sever ties with Moscow, Germany faced severe energy crises and economic recession.

On September 26, 2022, seven months into the invasion, the Nord Stream pipelines were irreversibly damaged by a confirmed act of sabotage.
The explosion ruptured the pipelines, leading to a local environmental crisis as tons of natural gas spilled into the Baltic Sea.

Following the sabotage, the United States and Russia pointed fingers at each other over the attack.

According to the WSJ report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former chief of the Ukrainian armed forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi ordered the operation.
Zelensky reportedly backed out following CIA advice, whereas Zaluzhnyi proceeded independently.

Reports suggest that the CIA was aware of the plan, as previously reported by The New York Times.
The NYT implied that “a pro-Ukraine group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines.”

“U.S.
officials stated they have no evidence implicating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or high-ranking officials in the operation,” as per the NYT.

Zaluzhnyi, currently Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, vehemently denied the accusations.

Recently, German authorities confirmed an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian suspect linked to the sabotage.
The individual, residing in Warsaw, reportedly fled back to Ukraine, eluding Polish authorities.

While Germany remains a steadfast ally to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, the investigation could strain relations between the two allies, albeit unlikely to disrupt support.

(Source: Money.it International Edition, 2024-08-15 20:09:28)