According to information from Spiegel, the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines was approved two years ago by the then Supreme Commander of Ukraine. He does not want to know anything about the operation…
The operation in the Baltic cost nearly $300,000 and was privately funded, but was submitted to Valery Zalushny for approval, the magazine reported, citing its own research. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky was not informed in advance, it said.
Ukraine and the United States, among others, were fervent opponents of the lines, which had been badly damaged by explosives. Russian gas had flowed to Germany through one pipeline, while the other was not yet operational.
Former commander wants nothing to do with it
Salushnyj, now the Ukrainian ambassador to Britain, had already told the Wall Street Journal (“WSJ”) that he knew nothing about such an operation. The “WSJ” reported in August, based on its own investigation, that Salushchnyj was involved in the operation. In the past, President Zelensky has always denied his government’s involvement in the sabotage actions.
Spiegel further reported that the sabotage team consisted of several Ukrainian divers, almost all of them civilians. The operation was planned and led by the Ukrainian ex-secret service agent Roman Chervinsky. Chervinsky had already denied his involvement to the Washington Post and Spiegel last year.
What happened?
In late September 2022, several explosions damaged and interrupted the two Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. The explosions were recorded near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Shortly afterwards, four leaks were discovered in three of the four lines of the Nord Stream pipelines.
Russian natural gas previously flowed to Germany via Nord Stream 1. Nord Stream 2 was not yet operational due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the political debates that followed.
Ukrainians under suspicion
In mid-August of this year, it was announced that the German Federal Prosecutor General was looking for a Ukrainian who had allegedly fled from Poland to his home country. “Die Zeit”, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the ARD reported that the man and two other Ukrainian citizens – a man and a woman – were suspected of committing the crime.
According to reports, they were involved in the attacks. They said that it could have been divers who had placed explosives on the pipelines. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office did not want to comment on the media reports when asked.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
