Fake News. Ukraine behind Nord Stream pipeline sabotage

Nord Stream is a network of pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany to provide Western Europe with natural gas, meaning it provided billions to the Kremlin's coffers.

A small Ukrainian crew disguised as a pleasure boat cruise was behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The operation was concocted during a drunken night in May 2022, as Ukrainian military officers celebrated halting Russia's full-scale invasion of the country and were looking to deal another blow to Moscow, the newspaper said, citing four anonymous sources familiar with the plan.

The scheme reportedly cost around $300,000 (€273,000) and involved a six-member crew on a small rented yacht. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially approved it before the US intelligence agency CIA caught wind and asked him to stop.

Russian disinformation

• Spreading information about Ukrainian involvement in the bombing is part of Russia's systemic disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Ukraine at the international level.

• Lack of direct evidence: The German investigation found no direct evidence linking Ukraine or its leadership to Nord Stream sabotage.

• Ukraine does not have technical capabilities: Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, noted that Ukraine does not have the technical and financial resources to carry out such a complex operation.