A Ukrainian military officer coordinated the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline
- Ukrainian military officer Roman Czerwiński allegedly took part in coordinating the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline, reports the Washington Post
- President Volodymyr Zelensky denies Ukraine’s involvement in the attack, emphasizing that he would “never do something like that”
- Roman Czerwiński also denies taking part in it. He emphasizes that all speculations are groundless
- More important information can be found on the Onet home page
Attack on Nord Stream. The Ukrainian officer did not act alone
Roman Czerwiński, an award-winning 48-year-old colonel who served in the Ukrainian special forces, was the “coordinator” of Operation Nord Stream, sources tell the Washington Post. According to this information, Czerwiński led a six-person team that committed an act of sabotage, rented a sailboat, provided false data, and used deep-sea diving equipment to place explosives on the gas pipeline.
On September 26, 2022, three explosions caused massive leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The Washington Post reports that Czerwiński did not act alone or plan the operation. He took orders from higher-ranking Ukrainian officials, who ultimately reported to General Valery Załużny.
“Ukraine has carried out many bold, covert operations against Russian forces. However, the attack on Nord Stream was aimed at civilian infrastructure built to provide energy to millions of people in Europe. While Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas conglomerate, owns a 51 percent stake in Nord Stream, Western energy companies, including from Germany, France and the Netherlands, are partners and have invested billions in the project,” notes the “Washington Post”, emphasizing that the attack on Nord Stream has strained relations between Ukraine and Western partners, although Kiev has shunned ties from the beginning with sabotage.
President Zelensky denies Ukraine’s involvement in the attack on Nord Stream
Roman Czerwiński’s participation in the attack is inconsistent with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public declaration regarding Ukraine’s involvement in the attack. — Ukraine did nothing of the sort. I would never behave like that, Zelensky said.
People familiar with the operation said Operation Nord Stream was intended to keep Zelensky away from any information.
Roman Czerwiński pleads not guilty. “The speculations are baseless”
Czerwiński was perfect to help carry out a secret mission aimed at concealing Ukraine’s responsibility. He has held senior positions in the country’s military intelligence agency and the Security Service of Ukraine, SBU, and maintains close professional and personal contacts with key military and security leaders.
Czerwiński, through his lawyer, also denies any role in the attack on the pipeline. In a written statement sent to The Washington Post and Der Spiegel, he states that any speculations about his involvement in the attack on Nord Stream are “groundless and spread by Russian propaganda.”
Source: Washington Post
