Fico Calls Ukraine-Linked Nord Stream Theory 'Nonsense'
Slovakia's prime minister states that the EU "refuses" to answer questions about who was responsible for the 2022 blasts. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has dismissed as “nonsense” a media report suggesting that a group of Ukrainian divers on a “small boat” was responsible for the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines.
The Nord Stream pipelines, which delivered Russian natural gas to Germany and other regions of Western Europe via the Baltic Sea, were sabotaged in September 2022 in explosions near the Danish island of Bornholm.
In August, various media outlets reported that German authorities had issued an international arrest warrant for a suspect in the case, identified as a Ukrainian diver named Volodymyr Z.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a Ukrainian diving team operating from a small yacht was behind the sabotage. This operation was allegedly led by Ukraine’s commander in chief at the time, Valery Zaluzhny. The idea reportedly emerged in May among a few senior Ukrainian military officers during “a night of heavy boozing,” as mentioned in the WSJ.
In an interview with Russia’s Channel 1 on Wednesday, Fico reacted to the report by stating, “We read that some drunken Ukrainian officers said they were going to blow [Nord Stream] up. I’m exaggerating a bit, but just imagine that they sailed in a small boat to the place where the pipe was laid… dived a few hundred meters, having taken some pyrotechnics with them, and blew it up. Nonsense.”
The WSJ detailed that a six-member crew rented a leisure yacht from a German port, setting off with only diving gear, satellite navigation, and open-source maps. They allegedly used an explosive called HMX, which was wired to timer-controlled detonators, to target pipelines located more than 250 feet underwater.
Moscow has rejected the report as implausible, with President Vladimir Putin asserting that the explosions were executed by professionals who had the backing of “the full might of the state, which has certain technologies.” He has indicated that the US was “probably” involved.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added that “only people who are afraid of the truth and are trying to protect the criminal Kiev regime” would likely believe the diver narrative.
Fico also expressed frustration that the EU “refuses” to provide answers regarding who was behind the Nord Stream sabotage.
In September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a transparent investigation, asserting that nothing was “being covered up.”
Regarding the German investigation, Lavrov noted that Berlin had not shared any information with Moscow despite numerous requests, insisting that Russia would demand a transparent inquiry, which he claims is being obstructed by the US, Britain, and their allies.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Nord Stream pipelines, which delivered Russian natural gas to Germany and other regions of Western Europe via the Baltic Sea, were sabotaged in September 2022 in explosions near the Danish island of Bornholm.
In August, various media outlets reported that German authorities had issued an international arrest warrant for a suspect in the case, identified as a Ukrainian diver named Volodymyr Z.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a Ukrainian diving team operating from a small yacht was behind the sabotage. This operation was allegedly led by Ukraine’s commander in chief at the time, Valery Zaluzhny. The idea reportedly emerged in May among a few senior Ukrainian military officers during “a night of heavy boozing,” as mentioned in the WSJ.
In an interview with Russia’s Channel 1 on Wednesday, Fico reacted to the report by stating, “We read that some drunken Ukrainian officers said they were going to blow [Nord Stream] up. I’m exaggerating a bit, but just imagine that they sailed in a small boat to the place where the pipe was laid… dived a few hundred meters, having taken some pyrotechnics with them, and blew it up. Nonsense.”
The WSJ detailed that a six-member crew rented a leisure yacht from a German port, setting off with only diving gear, satellite navigation, and open-source maps. They allegedly used an explosive called HMX, which was wired to timer-controlled detonators, to target pipelines located more than 250 feet underwater.
Moscow has rejected the report as implausible, with President Vladimir Putin asserting that the explosions were executed by professionals who had the backing of “the full might of the state, which has certain technologies.” He has indicated that the US was “probably” involved.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added that “only people who are afraid of the truth and are trying to protect the criminal Kiev regime” would likely believe the diver narrative.
Fico also expressed frustration that the EU “refuses” to provide answers regarding who was behind the Nord Stream sabotage.
In September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a transparent investigation, asserting that nothing was “being covered up.”
Regarding the German investigation, Lavrov noted that Berlin had not shared any information with Moscow despite numerous requests, insisting that Russia would demand a transparent inquiry, which he claims is being obstructed by the US, Britain, and their allies.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
