President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially approved a plan to sabotage the Nord Stream pipeline, but later tried to halt the operation, according to a new report. The September 2022 explosion in the Baltic Sea destroyed a major Russian natural gas export route, creating significant disruptions in energy markets.
The perpetrators of the attack remained unknown for months, with Danish and Swedish investigations ending inconclusively and the UN admitting it had no additional details. However, The Wall Street Journal provided new insights on Wednesday, detailing the events leading up to the attack.
According to the report, a team of six Ukrainian-backed divers chartered a 50-foot boat from Germany to the Baltic Sea, where they planted explosives on the pipeline. The Journal cited four Ukrainian defense officials with knowledge of the plot, though their identities were not disclosed. These details also align with information from a German police investigation.
The scheme reportedly originated from a boozy night of celebration among Ukrainian businessmen and senior military officers, who were impressed by recent successes. Funded by the businessmen with approximately $300,000, the plan received initial backing from then-army chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy. President Zelenskyy initially approved the operation, but the CIA's intervention in June prompted Zelenskyy to attempt to halt the plan.
Despite Zelenskyy's order to stop, Zaluzhniy continued with a modified version of the attack. The Ukrainian Embassy in London, where Zaluzhniy is now ambassador, was unavailable for comment. Zeluzhniy has denied involvement, calling any accusations a “mere provocation,” and asserting that Ukraine's armed forces lacked authorization for such operations.
The attack was led by Ukrainian special operations officer Roman Chervinsky, who declined to comment. Ukraine's motivation for disrupting the pipeline was its belief that it would increase European dependence on Russian energy, thereby enhancing Russia's leverage and income.
Following the attack, speculation swirled about the perpetrators. While Russia was quickly suggested as a suspect, the Kremlin denied involvement. Some, including Tucker Carlson and journalist Seymour Hersh, suggested Joe Biden was behind the operation, though these claims lacked substantial evidence.
Recent investigative reports, including a joint inquiry by The Washington Post and Der Spiegel, have linked Ukrainian entities to the attack. The Journal's report is the first to indicate that Zelenskyy was aware of the attack plan.
The revelation could strain diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Germany, which, along with Russia, was a key stakeholder in the pipeline. Germany, the second-largest supporter of Ukraine’s war effort, now faces significant costs in finding alternative energy sources, estimated at $1 million per day. A senior German official remarked on the paradox of supporting Ukraine with military aid while its actions had caused damage to Germany’s critical infrastructure.
