The responsibility for the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, which occurred last September, remains a mystery. But nine months after the fact, the investigation is progressing, gradually pointing to a panel of actors likely to be involved. New leads other than Russia, the main accused until now, are emerging. According to information from wall street journal revealed this Saturday, June 10, German investigators are currently examining clues suggesting that the perpetrators of the gas pipeline sabotage have set up their base in Poland to prepare for their operation. Potentially Ukrainian saboteurs, also reports the American daily.
As a reminder, at the end of September, four huge gas leaks were detected on the gas pipelines linking Russia to Germany, all in international waters. These underwater explosions rendered gas pipelines inoperative, depriving Moscow of billions of dollars in revenue. In November, the prosecutor in charge of the preliminary investigation carried out in Sweden concluded that the explosions were part of an act of sabotage. Before Germany takes over the investigation.
Map
© / Dario Ingiusto / L’Express
Yacht linked to Ukraine suspected
According to wall street journal, investigators have fully reconstructed the two-week voyage of the “Andromeda”, a yacht suspected of being involved in the sabotage of gas pipelines. They determined that the boat had deviated from its course plan to venture into Polish waters. According to the American daily, the investigators combed through all the data they had on the Yacht Andromeda: satellite positions, radio signals or even access to the Gmail and mobile accounts of suspected saboteurs. On board, traces of DNA were also found. The details of the investigation concerning this yacht show that it sailed around each of the locations of the explosions, before they took place.
The German Federal Police investigation further suggests that Poland was the rear base for the logistics and financing of the gas pipeline sabotage. Always according to Wall Street Journal, German investigators are investigating why the yacht was chartered with the help of a Warsaw-based travel agency, which appears to be part of a network of Ukrainian companies with suspected links to the country’s intelligence.
The United States aware of the months before the attack?
Earlier in the week, another investigation by the washington post reported that the United States had been made aware of a Ukrainian plan to sabotage the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines three months before the explosions. According to numerous confidential documents published online by young American serviceman Jack Teixeira, an intelligence agency from an unidentified European country informed the CIA that military divers were planning this attack on Nord Stream. The operation was reportedly overseen by General Valeri Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Special Forces, without the knowledge of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Always according to washington postthe United States had warned allies, including Germany.
Danish media recently reported, however, that a Russian navy vessel specializing in underwater operations was photographed near the sabotage area shortly before the explosions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated on Wednesday that he was not involved in the pipeline explosion and did not believe other Ukrainian officials played a role.