A Ukrainian presidential aide has refuted media claims that Kyiv was involved in explosions in September 2022 that ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines carrying natural gas from Russia to Europe via the Baltic seabed.
The Wall Street Journal reported last Friday that senior Ukrainian officials had a hand in the explosions that crippled the gas pipelines in 2022.
Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Thursday that Kyiv was not behind the attack, pointing the finger instead at Moscow.
“Ukraine has nothing to do with the Nord Stream explosions,” Podolyak told the news agency in a written statement, adding that his country gained no tactical or strategic benefit from the destruction.
“Such an act can only be carried out with extensive technical and financial resources,” he continued, “and who possessed all this at the time of the bombing? Only Russia.”
On Wednesday, German media reported that authorities there had issued an arrest warrant in the case. They said investigators had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor they named only as “Volodymr Z” for privacy reasons. They suspect the man of placing explosives 80 meters underwater at the pipeline site.
German prosecutors had asked Poland to arrest the man, as he was last known to have been resident in the country. However, Polish authorities said he had left in early July, and his current whereabouts were unknown.
Two other Ukrainian nationals—a man and a woman, both diving instructors—are also suspected by investigators of being complicit in the explosion, though no warrants have been issued for their arrests.
The blasts occurred on September 26, 2022, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Denmark, Sweden and Germany have all investigated the explosions, with the Swedish probe detecting traces of explosives at the blast site, indicating sabotage.
Russia has accused the United States, United Kingdom and Ukraine of blowing up the gas lines, allegations refuted by all three.
“Ukraine has nothing to do with the Nord Stream explosions,” Podolyak told the news agency in a written statement, adding that his country gained no tactical or strategic benefit from the destruction.
“Such an act can only be carried out with extensive technical and financial resources,” he continued, “and who possessed all this at the time of the bombing? Only Russia.”
On Wednesday, German media reported that authorities there had issued an arrest warrant in the case. They said investigators had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor they named only as “Volodymr Z” for privacy reasons. They suspect the man of placing explosives 80 meters underwater at the pipeline site.
German prosecutors had asked Poland to arrest the man, as he was last known to have been resident in the country. However, Polish authorities said he had left in early July, and his current whereabouts were unknown.
Two other Ukrainian nationals—a man and a woman, both diving instructors—are also suspected by investigators of being complicit in the explosion, though no warrants have been issued for their arrests.
The blasts occurred on September 26, 2022, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Denmark, Sweden and Germany have all investigated the explosions, with the Swedish probe detecting traces of explosives at the blast site, indicating sabotage.
Russia has accused the United States, United Kingdom and Ukraine of blowing up the gas lines, allegations refuted by all three.
Source: Reuters, PAP, The Guardian, TVP World
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