Russian naval vessels were discovered at or near the scene of the incident weeks before the explosions.
European intelligence agencies did not intercept any communications from Russian or Ukrainian officials that could prove their involvement in the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions in September 2022. American intelligence does not have such data either.
This is reported by The Washington Post, citing sources.
According to the newspaper, information has recently appeared that the undermining of the Nord Streams could allegedly be carried out by a pro-Ukrainian group that acted without the knowledge of the Ukrainian government. But the interlocutors of the newspaper, on condition of anonymity, called the idea that the Ukrainian authorities authorized sabotage at the Nord Streams unlikely.
However, according to the sources of the publication, the Western intelligence services received evidence that some “pro-Ukrainian individuals or groups”, they say, were discussing the possibility of blowing up gas pipelines – even before this happened. Sources noted that reports of this were found only after Western intelligence agencies began to investigate the undermining of Nord Stream.
WP writes that there is other intelligence indicating possible Russian involvement. Anecdotal intelligence, for example, showed that Russian naval vessels had been sighted at or near the sites of the explosions weeks before the incidents.
At the same time, according to WP, the special services still do not have evidence that would allow them to link a specific country with the bombing. The White House is also cautious about information about the possible participation of “Ukrainian saboteurs” in the Nord Stream incident.
“As far as I understand, we do not find this definitive,” a Biden administration official said.
Recall that in September 2022, explosions occurred on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which led to a gas leak. At that time, many officials announced Russia's involvement in the incident.
However, already on December 21, 2022, The Washington Post wrote that some Western officials doubt the Kremlin's involvement . According to the publication, some officials after the examination said they do not consider Russia responsible.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin called the Nord Stream explosions “an act of international terrorism , the purpose of which is to undermine the energy security of Europe.”
On March 7, 2023, The New York Times, citing sources and intelligence data, wrote that supposedly the explosions on the Russian Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines could have been staged by a pro-Ukrainian group of “Putin's opponents.” It seemed to include Russians and Ukrainians.
In Germany and the United States reacted to this and said that we should wait for the official results of the investigation.
In turn, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Presidential Administration, assured that Ukraine had nothing to do with the explosions at Nord Stream.
Recently Dutch intelligence services have warned that Russia has stepped up its espionage activities in the Netherlands. They say key Dutch offshore infrastructure in the North Sea, like internet cables, gas pipelines and wind farms, could be vulnerable to Russian sabotage in the North Sea.
