Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions were planned ten years ago - media

The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported this on Saturday, July 6, citing the results of a German and international investigation, as well as intelligence data, Ukrinform reports.

Germany in its investigation is focusing on the sailing yacht Andromeda, which was chartered in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at the time of the attack.

Before and after the attack, the six-person crew is said to have been in Ukraine, according to Welt am Sonntag. An official familiar with the investigation said that new evidence had emerged that strengthens the suspicion that the attack on the pipelines was carried out by the ship's crew.

However, intelligence agents doubt the significance of the investigation results so far.

"The investigation results may point to a Ukrainian group. But that does not mean that Ukraine was also the client. From an intelligence point of view, there is a lot to suggest that it was a false-flag operation by the Russians. They are capable of doing that," said former President of the German Federal Intelligence Service Gerhard Schindler.

According to Schindler, the traces left by the crew of the sailing ship could have been laid intentionally. Polish politicians and security experts expressed similar views.

Polish intelligence officers believe that Russia organized the attack, leaving a "false trail" to discredit Ukraine.

On September 26, 2022, three of the four lines of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were destroyed by explosions at the bottom of the Baltic Sea in neutral waters. Both gas pipelines were not operating at the time of the attack, but were filled with technical gas.

Poland and Ukraine blamed Russia for the explosions. The Kremlin regime, in turn, denied any involvement.

German media outlets, citing their sources, claimed that the yacht used by the group of alleged bombers belonged to Ukrainians. The media also reported that one of the men who rented the yacht lives in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine had nothing to do with explosions at the gas pipelines.