Zelensky issued first command for Nord Stream strike – WSJ
According to a report by the WSJ, the CIA urged Vladimir Zelensky to halt the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines; however, it was already too late. Read Full Article at RT.com
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The pipelines, significant for transporting Russian gas to Germany and other parts of Europe, were damaged by explosions in the Baltic Sea in September 2022.
Subsequently, Seymour Hersh, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, disclosed that the explosions were carried out by US Navy divers during a NATO drill, following orders from US President Joe Biden. High-ranking Moscow officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have accused the US of orchestrating the blasts to interrupt Russian gas flows to the EU.
The WSJ article introduces a distinct narrative, suggesting Ukrainian involvement in the attacks on the pipelines, a scenario that surfaced in Western media following Hersh’s revelations.
The publication's informants describe the plan to sabotage Nord Stream as originating in May 2022 during a meeting between top Ukrainian military officials and businessmen over drinks. The conspirators viewed the operation as a means to cut Russian energy profits and reduce EU dependence on Russian resources.
The WSJ details that the Ukrainian mission utilized a modest leased yacht named Andromeda, manned by a crew of six, including professional civilian divers, costing about $300,000.
Zelensky initially green-lighted the pipeline assault but reversed his decision after the CIA discovered the plot and requested its cancellation, as stated by a Ukrainian officer reportedly involved in the sabotage and three other knowledgeable individuals.
Despite Zelensky's change of heart, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny proceeded with the operation. "Once dispatched, a sabotage team goes incommunicado and cannot be withdrawn," he informed Zelensky, according to the sources.
When the WSJ reached out for a comment, Zaluzhny, now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, refuted the allegations, labeling any claims of his or Kiev's role in the Nord Stream destruction as “mere provocation.”
The WSJ notes that the German police investigation into the Nord Stream explosions partially supports the narrative provided by its sources. This development potentially threatens to destabilize relations between Kiev and Berlin, the latter being a major supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News