Major Breakthrough in Nord Stream Pipeline Investigation
German federal police have achieved a significant breakthrough in the nearly three-year investigation into the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. According to reports from German media outlets Die Zeit, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and ARD, authorities have identified all suspects involved in the destruction of the critical gas infrastructure.
The Sabotage Team Composition
The investigation reveals that the sabotage operation was carried out by a highly specialized Ukrainian commando team consisting of seven members. The team included multiple divers, an explosives expert, a coordinator, and a skipper. All suspects are Ukrainian nationals who operated from a chartered sailing yacht named Andromeda.
German authorities have issued six arrest warrants for the crew members, while one suspect, Vsevelod K., has reportedly been killed in combat on the front lines according to investigations by Dutch media.
Recent Arrests and Evidence
Last week, Italian authorities arrested a Ukrainian man, Serhii K., who is believed to have been the coordinator of the sabotage operation. The suspect was apprehended while on vacation in Italy. Another key suspect, Yurii T. from Odessa, was identified through fingerprint evidence collected during a previous visit to the Netherlands, which matched prints found on the sabotage vessel.
The team included Valeria T., the only female crew member who holds the Ukrainian women's deep-sea diving record, and Volodymyr Z., who resided in Poland before fleeing with assistance from a Ukrainian defense attaché.
Government Connections Suspected
Investigators discovered that the team traveled with two sets of false passports. They carried completely forged Romanian passports along with Ukrainian passports containing fictional names that were nevertheless officially issued by Ukrainian authorities. This evidence suggests potential connections to the Ukrainian government.
While both Ukrainian President Zelensky and former commander-in-chief Zaluzhny have denied knowledge of the operation, sources from Dutch intelligence indicated Zaluzhny's involvement in the planning stages.
Geopolitical Implications
The Nord Stream pipelines, representing a multi-billion euro German-Russian energy project, were destroyed in September 2022 just before the Baltic Pipe alternative route became operational. The sabotage occurred during heightened tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and significantly altered Europe's energy security landscape.
The German investigation remains ongoing while Swedish and Danish authorities closed their investigations in February 2024 without identifying perpetrators.