Complete Profiles of Nord Stream Sabotage Suspects Revealed
German authorities identify suspects in Nord Stream pipeline sabotage linked to Ukraine.
Key Points
- • Investigators believe they have identified all suspects involved in the Nord Stream sabotage.
- • A Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy, and warrants have been issued for five others.
- • The suspects allegedly used a rented sailboat and military-grade explosives.
- • There are indications of possible Ukrainian state assistance in the operation.
German investigators have reportedly identified all individuals involved in the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline sabotage, a significant development highlighted by reports from several reputable outlets including Süddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit. The investigation centers around a Ukrainian man recently arrested in Italy, suspected of placing explosives on both Nord Stream 1 and 2. In addition to this arrest, German authorities have issued warrants for five other Ukrainian citizens believed to have participated in the operation, which has raised questions regarding possible state assistance from Ukraine.
The suspects are alleged to have executed the sabotage using a rented sailboat named "Andromeda," which they acquired in Rostock under assumed identities. The group consisted of a leader, four divers, an explosives expert, and a sailor described as experienced. The leader, a 49-year-old man, was identified through fingerprints found on the boat. It has been revealed that the suspects possessed dual fake passports—one Romanian with real identities and another Ukrainian with falsified information.
Furthermore, investigators have uncovered that the explosives employed in the operation were military-grade and weighed between 14 and 27 kilograms. These included powerful materials such as hexogen and octogen, utilized to carry out the leaks that disrupted the pipelines transporting gas from Russia to Germany. As investigations continue in Sweden and Denmark, Germany is actively pursuing its inquiry into what might be deemed 'constitutional sabotage.'