RIGHT NOW: Being singled out for the attacks against Nord Stream

Nord Stream

USA: Pro-Ukrainian group may be behind Nord Stream explosions   

Of:  

Annica Ögren, 

Emil Forsberg  

Published: Less than 2 hours ago 

Updated: Very recently 

NEWS  

A pro-Ukrainian group may be behind the explosions on the Nord Stream. 

It appears from new American intelligence, reports The New York Times.

- It doesn't feel logical at all, says expert Hugo von Essen. 

New intelligence reviewed by US officials suggests that a pro-Ukraine group carried out the attack on Nord Stream last year.  

According to US officials, there is no evidence that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi or his inner circle were involved in the operation, or that the group acted on behalf of the government in any way. 

The operation is not linked to President Zelenskyi or his close associates. Photo: Coast Guard / TT  

More details are missing  

It is not clear what kind of group is being accused, nor who are members of the designated group or who led or paid for the operation.  

According to The New York Times, US officials have declined to provide more details, including how the information came to their attention.  

However, they say they believe the saboteurs are likely to be Ukrainian or Russian nationals, or a combination of both.  

However, the officials reportedly said that there are no firm conclusions yet, leaving the possibility open for further speculation.  

Could damage the relationship with Germany  

According to the officials who reviewed the intelligence, there are still large gaps in what US spy agencies and European partners knew about the course of events on Nord Stream, but believe that the new data could be a first important clue that could ultimately have profound consequences for the coalition supporting Ukraine.  

Any findings that blame Ukraine or Ukrainian proxies could cause a backlash in Europe and make it more difficult for the West to maintain a united front in support of Ukraine.  

American officials and intelligence agencies admit that they have limited insight into Ukrainian decision-making, writes The New York Times. 

Hugo von Essen, the Institute for Foreign Policy, is skeptical of the data. Photo: UIP/TT  

"Doesn't feel logical at all"  

The Institute for Foreign Policy's analyst Hugo von Essen is skeptical of the data.  

- It does not feel logical at all that it would be Ukraine. You risk the support from the Western world and the Russian gas to Europe had already been cut off when the explosion happened, so it made no difference, he says and continues:  

- I still think that a lot more speaks for Russia than Ukraine. It made no difference to them, there was nothing to lose.   

However, von Essen states that Ukraine could have some interest in blowing up the gas pipeline. 

- The arguments that have been heard and can be speculated about are to further slow down Russian energy exports to Europe and thereby reduce Russian revenues. My feeling is that Russia also got the blame and it also benefits Ukraine and reinforces the image that Russia is a rogue state. But there are even better reasons that speak for Russia's interests.  

The US intelligence reports of Ukrainian involvement come shortly after award-winning journalist Seymour Hersh accused the US of being behind the explosion. Something that the White House dismissed as "complete fiction".  

- The American intelligence work has changed during the war where information is leaked on purpose as a strategic weapon to influence. Before the war, it was leaked that Russia would invade to try to delay the invasion. And the same is true now of the information that China can supply Russia with weapons. They are trying to scare China and show that we see what you are doing.  

The CIA has declined comment. Likewise the White House's National Security Council, which referred questions about the attack on Nord Stream to European authoritie