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Sabotage of Nord Stream gas pipelines: the tracks that lead to Ukraine

2023-05-27T10:22:16.962Z

Highlights: Several German media have revealed links between the ship that could be behind the sabotage in September of the Nord St gas pipelines. One of the passengers, with a Romanian passport, "turned out to be a Ukrainian national," who "allegedly served in the past in an infantry unit" Traces of an explosive called octogène, "very widespread both in the West and in the former Eastern Bloc," were reportedly discovered on this boat. The New York Times had claimed in early March, on the basis of information from US intelligence, that a "pro-Ukrainian group" would be behind this attack.


Several German media have revealed links between the ship that could be behind the sabotage in September of the Nord St gas pipelines.


A first serious lead, six months after the fact? According to the German weekly Der Spiegel, several indications point to Ukrainian responsibility for the sabotage of the two Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia to Germany.

At the end of September, four explosions that caused leaks hit the huge infrastructure built to bring Russian gas to Europe. Quickly, the investigation - led by Germany, Sweden and Denmark - had moved towards the hypothesis of state sabotage, without responsibility being established.

According to Der Spiegel, police investigations are currently focusing on a sailboat, the "Andromeda", searched a few months ago. It is believed to have been used to transport explosives used for sabotage in the Baltic Sea.

  • Rental in connection with Ukraine

However, metadata from an email sent at the time of the rental of the sailboat would lead to Ukraine. Earlier this week, other German media, members of an international consortium of journalists, traced the rental of the boat, carried out by a Polish company that is in fact owned by Ukrainians.

VIDEO. Nord Stream: sabotage "does not come from our action", says Ukrainian Defense Minister

  • A former soldier among the passengers

Investigators are also exploring a lead "in Ukrainian military circles," according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, RND and WDR. According to ongoing investigations, the sailboat left Rostock, a port in northern Germany, on September 6 with a team of six people on board, including divers and a doctor. One of the passengers, with a Romanian passport, "turned out to be a Ukrainian national," who "allegedly served in the past in an infantry unit."

  • Traces of octogen

In addition, traces of an explosive called octogène, "very widespread both in the West and in the former Eastern Bloc", were reportedly discovered on this boat. All these clues "agree with the estimates of several intelligence services, according to which the perpetrators are to be sought in Ukraine," summarizes Der Spiegel.

  • Previous tracks

The New York Times had claimed in early March, on the basis of information from US intelligence, that a "pro-Ukrainian group" would be behind the sabotage.

The Danish press, for its part, reported at the end of April the presence of a Russian Navy ship specialized in submarine operations near the sites of the sabotage shortly before the explosions.

  • Would the government be involved?

One question remains, however: was the act "carried out by an uncontrolled commando or by the Ukrainian secret service," wonders the German weekly Der Spiegel. Clearly, was part of the Ukrainian government aware of this attack?

In March, the New York Times said the information seen by U.S. intelligence did not allow "any firm conclusions" and left "open the possibility that the operation was launched in secret by a third-party force with ties to the Ukrainian government or its security services."

On Thursday, Russia was annoyed by the lack of results of the investigations. It summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Denmark and Sweden to the Russian Foreign Ministry to express a "strong protest against the total lack of results of the national investigations allegedly carried out by the authorities of these countries," Russian diplomacy said in a statement.

Moscow has repeatedly asked to be involved in the investigation. "The fact that the German, Danish and Swedish authorities are avoiding any interaction with Russia in this case ... is unacceptable," the Russian Foreign Ministry added, accusing the three countries of "not being interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage."

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2023-05-27

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