The operation, which involved both Ukrainian military officers and businessmen, was reportedly conceived during a night of heavy drinking. Several Ukrainian officials and other sources familiar with the matter provided details for a report published by the Wall Street Journal.
The Nord Stream pipeline, which transports large quantities of valuable liquefied natural gas from Russia to Germany, was damaged under mysterious circumstances in 2022.
While American officials have not officially identified the perpetrators, four senior Ukrainian defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed to the Wall Street Journal that they were either involved in or had direct knowledge of the sabotage.
These same sources claimed that both Zelensky and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) attempted to stop the false flag plot, but their efforts were unsuccessful. (Related: After blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines that provided low-cost energy to Germany, the U.S. is now threatening German banks with sanctions.)
The plan, led by Ukrainian General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reportedly originated in May 2022. During a celebration of Ukraine's resistance against the first stages of Russia's special military operation, military officers and businessmen discussed and decided to act upon a half-formed plot to target the Nord Stream pipeline, viewing it as a strategic objective that provides Russia with massive income from Europe. The businessmen agreed to put up about $300,000 to finance the operation.
Zelensky reportedly approved the plan shortly after it was proposed. However, after the CIA received a warning from an unnamed European intelligence agency of the plot, CIA officials alerted Zelensky's office, pressuring him to halt the operation.
Despite Zelensky’s subsequent orders to stop, Zaluzhnyi continued with a modified version of the plan, leading to the successful sabotage of the pipeline on Sept. 26, 2022.
The sabotage led to immediate consequences, including rising energy prices across Europe and accusations of sabotage from Russia and Western countries.
Sources indicate that Zelensky privately reprimanded Zaluzhnyi, and this and other disagreements with the president led to his eventual demotion from his role as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces in Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi currently serves as Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom.
In response to the allegations, a senior officer from Ukraine’s intelligence agency denied Kyiv’s involvement, asserting that Zelensky had not approved any alleged actions against third-party countries. Zaluzhnyi also denied any knowledge of the operation, labeling the accusations as a “mere provocation.”
Germany zeroes in on main suspect who planted explosives on Nord Stream pipeline
Germany, which was informed of the plot around the same time the CIA alerted Zelensky, has been investigating the sabotage for two years. This investigation includes analyzing physical and digital evidence and considering witness testimony.
In June, Germany’s federal prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor suspected of involvement, though the suspect remains at large and reportedly traveled to Ukraine in July.
The man accused of orchestrating the most severe attack on Germany’s energy infrastructure since World War II, Vladimir Zhuravlev, a Ukrainian diving instructor based in Kyiv, was featured on Facebook smiling by the sea.
German authorities identified Zhuravlev through photos and witness statements and issued an arrest warrant. However, Zhuravlev had returned to Ukraine in early July before the warrant could be executed.
Two other suspects, Ukrainian diving instructors Svitlana and Yevhen Uspenska, have also been named. Svitlana Uspenska, who claimed she was not involved and was in Kyiv at the time, plans to sue German media for defamation. Her husband, Yevhen, is a soldier fighting against Russian forces. Their exact roles in the attack remain unclear.
According to German news reports, investigators believe Zhuravlev, Svitlana, Yevhen and possibly other Ukrainian operatives used a yacht, registered in Germany under the name "Andromeda," and sailed it over to the pipelines to plant explosives.
The pipelines were not transporting gas at the time of the attack. Investigators also believe the attack on the pipeline may have been a result of plots that date as far back as early 2014, right around the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Watch this clip from "The Breanna Morello Show" as she reacts to the news that an arrest warrant has been issued against Vladimir Zhuravlev.
This video is from the channel MyPodcastDropped2320 on Brighteon.com.
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