![Ukrainian Officer Had Key Role In Sabotaging Nord Stream Pipeline: Report Ukrainian Officer Had Key Role In Sabotaging Nord Stream Pipeline: Report](https://c.ndtvimg.com/2022-09/1d7u7s28_nord-stream-pipeline-linking-russia-to-europe-reuters_625x300_29_September_22.jpg)
Ukraine’s Zelensky has repeatedly denied his nation was behind the sabotage. (File)
Frankfurt, Germany:
A Ukrainian particular forces commander performed a key position in sabotaging the Nord Stream fuel pipelines in September final yr, studies mentioned Saturday.
Thriller has surrounded who was behind the blasts that broken the pipelines, chopping off a serious route for Russian fuel exports to Europe and fuelling already excessive tensions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Totally different theories have emerged pointing the finger at Ukraine, Russia or the US. All have denied involvement.
A joint investigation by The Washington Put up newspaper and German outlet Der Spiegel singles out Roman Chervinsky, a 48-year-old who served in Ukraine’s Particular Operations Forces.
He was the “coordinator”, the studies mentioned, citing officers in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, in addition to different individuals with information of the operation, who spoke anonymously.
He oversaw logistics and assist for a six-person staff, which rented a crusing boat utilizing false identities and diving gear to put explosive prices on the pipelines, mentioned the Put up.
The blasts ruptured three of the 4 pipelines that make up Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, spewing fuel into the Baltic Sea.
Chervinsky didn’t plan the operation or act alone, and took orders from extra senior Ukrainian officers, the Put up reported.
He denied any position within the sabotage by means of his lawyer.
“All speculations about my involvement in the attack on Nord Stream are being spread by Russian propaganda without any basis,” he mentioned in a press release to the Put up and Der Spiegel.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly denied his nation was behind the sabotage.
“I would never do that,” he informed Germany’s Bild newspaper in June, including that he would “like to see proof”.
However the Nord Stream operation was designed to maintain Zelensky at midnight, the Put up reported.
The 2 media shops mentioned the Ukrainian authorities didn’t reply to requests for touch upon their investigation.
Chervinsky is presently on trial in Kyiv, accused of getting abused his energy throughout an try to influence a Russian pilot to defect.
He says his prosecution is political retribution for having criticised Zelensky, in response to the studies.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)