Anna Hartz
Former Ukrainian Commander Named in Nord Stream Investigation
Energy has always been at the center of Europe’s relationship with Russia. For years, pipelines under the Baltic Sea supplied gas directly from Russia to Germany.
When explosions damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in September 2022, the event shook Europe’s energy security and raised immediate suspicions of sabotage.
Two years later, investigators in Germany are still trying to piece together what really happened.
Links to Ukraine
German authorities are now looking into possible involvement of Ukrainian citizens in the incident, reports Ziare,
According to German media, investigators suspect a link to Valeriy Zaluzhny, the former commander of Ukraine’s armed forces.
At the time of the explosions, he was the top military official in the country. Today, he serves as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Speculation of Staging
The investigation points to the yacht Andromeda, which German officials believe may have been used to carry out the attack.
A representative of the German Federal Police told Welt that there is “substantial evidence” connecting Ukrainian actors to the case.
However, not everyone in the intelligence community accepts this theory.
Some experts argue the traces left by the yacht’s crew may have been staged to mislead investigators. Other officials dismiss the claims as speculation.
No Comments
So far, neither Zaluzhny nor Ukraine’s government has commented. In the past, Kyiv has denied any role in the Nord Stream explosions.
German investigators have also named individuals. One of them, a 49-year-old Ukrainian citizen identified as Serghei K., was arrested in Italy on August 21.
Authorities say he played a coordinating role. His lawyer insists that he denies all charges and that he has not been given full access to the case file.
Ongoing Investigation
The Nord Stream blasts remain one of the most mysterious incidents of the war years.
The explosions were powerful enough to register on seismic monitors and were immediately labeled sabotage by European officials.
Traces of explosives were later found on the Andromeda. Arrest warrants for other suspects, including a Ukrainian diver, have followed.
The case is ongoing. Investigators have not presented final conclusions. The world is waiting, as the outcome could affect not just Ukraine and Germany, but the balance of energy politics across Europe.
