The Poles have not helped much in the investigation of the gas pipeline explosion, claim German sources interviewed by Die Welt.
German newspaper Interviewed by Die Welt German authorities claim that Poland obstructed the investigation into the blowing up of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
German investigators currently suspect a Ukrainian diver named behind the 2022 explosions Volodymyr Z. In accordance with German practice, only the first letter of the suspect’s surname is reported.
According to the German investigation, the diver carried out the attack with five Ukrainian men. According to the latest information, Volodymyr Z lived near Warsaw, Poland, but fled to Ukraine before he could be arrested.
Within the framework of the European agreements in force, Ukraine does not have to hand over its citizens to the authorities of other countries.
An anonymous German official interviewed by Welt now claims that the Polish authorities failed to comply with the European arrest warrant issued by the German Federal Court for Volodymyr Z.
According to officials interviewed by Welt, the group of six Ukrainian men received mission-related training within Poland’s borders. Officials believe Poland may have provided “logistical support” to the underwater operation.
According to the German authorities, the Polish authorities have not agreed to hand over video footage from the port of Kołobrzeg, where the Ukrainian ship Andromeda stopped a week before the explosion of the gas pipelines.
Poland responds to German claims
Polish officials tell Welt they are outraged by the German accusations.
– The claim that Ukraine did this with the knowledge of the Poles is completely baseless, head of the Polish National Security Agency Jacek Siewiera says.
Siewiera presents Welt with serious allegations about the German authorities. According to him, the accusations concerning Poland come from “a small circle of pro-Russian German authorities who are no longer in power”.
– I hope that it is not a disinformation campaign in which these persons have agreed to be used to smear Poland, Siewiera says to Welt.
Welt also asked the opinion of a high-ranking Ukrainian officer who was allegedly involved in the gas pipeline attack.
– It is ridiculous to believe that we carried out the attack, but if Ukraine was behind the attack, then Germany should stop the investigation, because it was a perfectly valid military target for Ukraine, the officer says according to Welt.