German authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national in connection to the explosion that damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline two years ago, raising questions about Ukraine's involvement in the incident.
The suspect, known as 'Volodymyr Z,' was part of a six-man diving team that allegedly planted explosives on the pipeline in September 2022. The incident, which occurred in international waters within Swedish and Danish economic zones, damaged the pipelines that allowed Russia to sell gas to Europe more easily despite sanctions.
Reports suggest that the plan took four months to execute and cost around $300,000. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially supported the plan but later tried to halt it after being advised by the CIA. However, Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy reportedly ignored the order and proceeded with the operation.
While Ukrainian officials have denied involvement, German intelligence officers suspect a possible Russian 'false flag operation' to cover up their own actions. Polish security agents also support this theory, providing names of Russian suspects to German authorities.
Two other suspects, Svitlana and Yevhen Uspenska, who run a diving school in Ukraine, have denied any involvement in the incident. Investigations by Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have been ongoing, with Sweden and Denmark closing their cases earlier this year due to insufficient grounds to pursue criminal charges.
U.S. intelligence in 2023 pointed towards a pro-Ukrainian group being behind the attack, confirming it as an act of sabotage. However, the U.S. clarified that it was not directly involved in the incident.
The complex web of allegations and denials surrounding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline explosion continues to raise geopolitical tensions and questions about the true perpetrators behind the sabotage.
