German investigators suspect that Ukraine may have been involved in the Nord Stream pipeline blast that occurred in September of last year, The Times reported. This investigation continues despite the presence of suspicious Russian naval activity in the vicinity leading up to the unexplained blasts.
Investigation continues as German police suspect Ukraine involved in Nord Stream blast of September 2022
The explosions, which took place on September 26, 2022, inflicted significant damage on three out of the four Nord Stream pipelines. These pipelines, which were constructed over a span of 15 years, serve as a crucial energy conduit between Russia and Western countries, and their disruption severed the primary connection between the two regions.
Despite active investigations being conducted by Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, the identity of the perpetrator behind the incidents remains unknown.
Various parties, including the United States, Russia, Ukrainian secret services, and an unidentified Ukrainian businessman, have been implicated and accused of involvement. However, all three countries have strongly denied any responsibility for the incidents, as per the report.
Recent attention has been focused on Russian naval activities in the Baltic Sea during the period when the explosions occurred, Dailymail reported.
According to reports from Denmark, a Russian submarine rescue ship named SS-750 was photographed in the sea just four days before the blasts took place. The SS-750 is equipped with its own mini-submarine called the AS-26, capable of diving up to 262 feet (80 meters) and carrying loads of up to 50kg.
The debate over motives and plausible deniability emerges in blast investigation
However, there are critics who question why Russian President Vladimir Putin would have any interest in sabotaging the gas pipelines, as it would diminish Russia’s energy leverage over Europe. On the other hand, some argue that Russia may have intended to send a warning message to the West, highlighting the vulnerability of critical gas pipelines at sea.
Another perspective suggests that Russia could potentially hide behind a facade of plausible deniability by orchestrating the destruction of its own pipelines in the Baltic Sea, specifically in the area east of the Danish island of Bornholm.
According to The Times, the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) is currently pursuing new leads that could implicate Ukraine while clearing Russia of any wrongdoing. Investigative journalists from Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Denmark have claimed that the BKA, after thoroughly examining Moscow’s naval maneuvers near the blast site, remain unconvinced of Russian sabotage.
