The media reported coordination of the Nord Stream explosion by a Ukrainian officer

The ex-commander of one of the units of the special operations forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Roman Chervinsky, coordinated efforts to undermine the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, writes The Washington Post, citing unnamed officials from Ukraine and European countries.

The newspaper’s sources claim that Chervinsky led a six-person crew that allegedly leased the vessel by providing false documents and then used diving equipment to plant explosives on underwater pipelines.

According to the publication, when carrying out sabotage, Chervinsky received orders from the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny. The sources provided information on condition of anonymity so as not to lead to a further deterioration of relations with Ukraine and not to provoke criticism from the United States. Chervinsky himself denied any involvement in the bombing of gas pipelines.

On September 26, 2022, the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which pass through the Baltic Sea, were damaged as a result of sabotage. Only one of the Nord Stream 2 lines has survived, but it is not used for gas supplies, since Germany did not allow the pipeline to be put into operation after its completion.

On February 8, American journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh published his investigation of the Nord Stream incident, in which he accused the United States and Norway of involvement in the bombing. Then he spoke on this topic more than once. In particular, on September 26 of this year, he said that the team of employees of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which was preparing the operation to undermine the Nord Streams, left no traces “except for the success of its mission.” All reports from the operation went directly to CIA Director Bill Burns. He, the journalist claims, was the only link between the president and the organizers. Once the mission was over, all papers, copies and physical evidence were destroyed.

At the same time, a number of Western media claimed that evidence points to the involvement of criminals associated with Ukraine in the sabotage. The Kremlin has questioned the veracity of reports that Ukraine orchestrated the sabotage, calling such reports a “coordinated hoax” aimed at distracting attention. Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials have previously repeatedly indicated that Western countries led by the United States are behind the explosion of gas pipelines.