WSJ: Selensky knew about plans to attack North Stream
Investigators have been trying to determine who is behind the explosives attack on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea for nearly two years. According to a report by the "Wall Street Journal," Kyiv is behind it - with the knowledge of high-ranking officials in the administration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy apparently knew about the plans to attack the Nord Stream pipelines. The "Wall Street Journal" reports this, citing several unnamed sources in the military apparatus.
"I always laugh when I read speculation in the media about a massive operation involving intelligence agencies, submarines, drones, and satellites," said a Ukrainian officer who claims to have been involved in the plot. "It all started from a drunken night and the iron will of a handful of people who had the courage to risk their lives for their country."
At a meeting of Ukrainian military and businesspeople just a few months after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the idea of blowing up the gas pipelines - as a strike against Russian President Vladimir Putin - emerged.
A few months later, three explosive devices on the underwater pipes caused massive damage. According to the "Wall Street Journal" report, six people were directly involved in the operation, which cost around $300,000. The plan was reportedly funded by private money.
Zelenskyy tried to stop the attack
Before the attack, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is said to have approved the plans. However, the CIA is said to have gotten wind of the plans and warned Zelenskyy against carrying out such a strike, according to the report.
Zelenskyy then reportedly ordered the then-Chief of the General Staff, Valeriy Saluschnyy, to stop the action, as several Ukrainian officers and officials told the newspaper. However, the general is said to have ignored the order; instead, his team adjusted the original plan. The mission was reportedly led by former intelligence officer Roman Tscherwynsky, who reported directly to Saluschnyy. Tscherwynsky himself declined to comment on the allegations. Saluschnyy stated that he knew nothing about such an operation. The investigations by RTL/ntv largely match those of the "Wall Street Journal."
After the attack in September 2022, Zelenskyy is said to have confronted his Chief of the General Staff. However, Saluschnyy is said to have shrugged off the criticism. The general told Zelenskyy that the sabotage team, once deployed, could no longer communicate because any contact with them would jeopardize the operation.
"It's like a torpedo - once you've fired it at the enemy, you can't recall it, it just keeps running until it goes 'boom'," a high-ranking officer told the "Wall Street Journal" about the conversation between the president and his top military official.
There are no written evidence of the operation, according to the report. Everything was reportedly discussed orally between Ukrainian officials for security reasons.
The Baltic Sea served as the location for the explosives attack on the Nord Stream pipelines, as mentioned in the initial investigation. The attack, which resulted in significant damage to the pipelines, is now believed to have been orchestrated by individuals within the Ukrainian military, with potential support from high-ranking officials, as suggested by the "Wall Street Journal" report.
