Poland provides evidence to Germany suggesting Russian role in Nord Stream blasts, but doubts linger in Berlin
Read NV on Google
Poland has provided Germany with evidence of Russian involvement in the explosions that hit the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines last year, although Berlin is skeptical of this information, German newspaper Die Zeit reported on Oct. 9.
Polish intelligence services recently sent Germany information that Poland had identified part of the crew of the Andromeda yacht that was in the area of the incident. According to their information, several men, who were allegedly on the yacht for at least some time, have Russian citizenship.
The Andromeda is believed to have played a decisive role in the attack on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 on Sept. 26, 2022, Zeit notes.
On Sept. 19, 2022, according to the Gdańsk Prosecutor's Office, the Polish Border Guard checked the crew of Andromeda during a stopover in the Polish city of Kolobrzeg and recorded the personal data of the crew members. The men reportedly presented Bulgarian documents that were apparently forged. One of them – presumably the captain of the yacht – identified himself as "Mikhail Popov."
Polish intelligence believes that it knows the real identities of these people and suggests that some of them may be connected to Russian military intelligence.
Die Zeit adds that the German government and investigative circles are skeptical of these reports and believe that they could be a distraction on the part of Warsaw. Poland is in the midst of an election campaign and the Polish government has publicly suspected Russia of committing the crime from the very beginning, the German newspaper explains. It is possible that the Polish authorities are emphasizing the Russian trail to divert attention from Ukraine.
On the night of Sept. 26, 2022, three of the four Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were destroyed by explosions at the bottom of the Baltic Sea in neutral waters.
Neither of the gas pipelines were in operation at the time – they were filled with pressurized methane.
Poland and Ukraine accused Russia of the bombings, while the Kremlin regime, in turn, denied any involvement and blamed the "Anglo-Saxons" (probably referring to the United States and the UK, and possibly Australia and other English-speaking nations as well).
In November 2022, the Swedish security service confirmed that explosive remnants were found near the pipelines. The Swedish prosecutor's office believes that the investigation into the explosions could end in the fall.
Earlier, U.S. newspaper the New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials who had reviewed early U.S. intelligence and spoke on condition of anonymity, that a "pro-Ukrainian group" may be behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.
The German media, citing sources, claimed that the yacht used by the group of alleged bombers belonged to Ukrainian citizens. The news outlets also reported that one of the men who rented the yacht lived in Ukraine.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the President’s Office, said that Ukraine had nothing to do with the destruction of the gas pipelines. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said it was "a rather strange story that has nothing to do with us."
"I am the president and I give the appropriate orders," President VolodymyrZelenskyy said in June, also denying that Ukraine was involved in the incident.
“Ukraine has never done anything like this. I would never do that,” Zelenskyy said.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
