The investigation into the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, which transported Russian natural gas to Western Europe, remains mired in controversy, with both Russia and Germany trading accusations over transparency and accountability. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently reiterated Berlin’s commitment to bringing those responsible to justice, but Moscow continues to criticize the investigation as opaque and politically motivated.

In September 2022, three of the four Nord Stream pipelines, a critical conduit for delivering Russian natural gas to Germany and other parts of Western Europe, were severed in a series of underwater explosions. These pipelines had played a significant role in Europe’s energy security, especially given the continent’s reliance on Russian gas. Following the blasts, gas leaks were observed in the Baltic Sea, and the pipelines were rendered inoperable.

No one has officially claimed responsibility for the sabotage, leading to widespread speculation, accusations, and investigations. The geopolitical implications of the blasts have also intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event, given its occurrence in the context of escalating tensions between Russia and the West over the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking to citizens in Prenzlau, Brandenburg, on September 14, 2024, Chancellor Olaf Scholz sought to allay concerns about the investigation’s progress, stressing that no cover-ups were taking place. “Nothing is being covered up, that should be absolutely clear,” he emphasized, adding that Germany hopes to bring those responsible to justice “if we can get hold of them.” Scholz noted that all relevant authorities, including the Federal Public Prosecutor General, were working without bias to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.

This statement followed criticism from Moscow, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing Berlin of deliberately withholding information and obstructing transparency. Lavrov contended that Germany, along with the US and its allies, was preventing a full investigation from unfolding, a claim that has resonated in Russian political discourse as Moscow seeks answers regarding the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines.

Lavrov’s critique, delivered on September 12, highlighted Moscow’s dissatisfaction with the ongoing investigation. The Russian foreign minister dismissed reports that six individuals, supposedly operating independently, could have carried out the sabotage. He argued that this narrative, which surfaced shortly after investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a report suggesting US involvement, was “unbelievable” and designed to obfuscate the true culprits.

“If someone can actually believe this version, then it’s only people who are afraid of the truth,” Lavrov remarked. He has insisted that a transparent investigation must take place, and suggested that the US, the UK, and their allies were actively blocking such efforts.

Lavrov’s assertions align with Moscow’s broader geopolitical stance on the issue. Russia has refrained from openly accusing Washington of orchestrating the sabotage, but has consistently hinted that the US stands to benefit the most from the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Germany. By severing the Nord Stream pipelines, Moscow argues, the US has effectively weakened Europe’s economic reliance on Russia while simultaneously positioning itself as an alternative energy supplier.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh added fuel to the fire when, in early 2023, he published a report alleging that the US was behind the sabotage. Citing whistleblowers and well-placed sources, Hersh claimed that US Navy divers planted explosives on the Nord Stream pipelines under the guise of the BALTOPS 22 NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea. The operation, Hersh asserted, was carried out on direct orders from President Joe Biden.

While Hersh’s report gained significant attention, it has not been independently verified, and both Washington and its NATO allies have dismissed the claims. Nonetheless, the report has continued to shape the narrative around the Nord Stream blasts, particularly in Russia, where many view it as evidence of Western interference in Europe’s energy affairs.

Following Hersh’s explosive allegations, a different narrative began to circulate in Western media. Reports suggested that the sabotage was the work of a small team of pro-Ukrainian commandos who rented a yacht to reach the blast site. According to this theory, the team was independent of the Ukrainian government, and neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nor Western intelligence agencies, including the CIA, were aware of the plan.

However, this narrative has faced skepticism, especially given the complexity of such an operation. More recent reports, including an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, allege that Zelensky may have known about and approved the sabotage but later attempted to halt the operation, albeit unsuccessfully.

The conflicting narratives around the Nord Stream blasts have further complicated efforts to identify those responsible. The ongoing German investigation has also failed to produce concrete results, with authorities reportedly issuing just one arrest warrant thus far. According to multiple German outlets, the warrant was issued for a Ukrainian national identified as “Vladimir Z.”

In August 2024, German media reported that authorities had issued the first arrest warrant in connection with the Nord Stream blasts. The individual in question, a Ukrainian national named “Vladimir Z.,” is believed to have been involved in orchestrating the sabotage. However, details of the arrest warrant remain scarce, and German authorities have not disclosed further information about his alleged role in the attacks.

This arrest warrant, while a significant development, has not quelled the growing concerns over the transparency and effectiveness of the German investigation. Moscow, in particular, remains critical of Berlin’s handling of the case, and Lavrov has made it clear that Russia will continue to push for an international investigation.

The Nord Stream sabotage has become more than just an investigation into a mysterious explosion. It symbolizes the broader geopolitical struggles playing out between Russia, the West, and Ukraine in the context of the ongoing war. For Germany, the investigation is an opportunity to uphold justice and ensure accountability. For Russia, it is a chance to expose what it sees as Western duplicity and assert its position on the global stage.

As the investigation drags on, it remains to be seen whether Germany will be able to bring those responsible to justice, or if the Nord Stream sabotage will become yet another unsolved mystery in the growing list of international incidents tied to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Whatever the outcome, the blasts have undoubtedly reshaped Europe’s energy landscape and added fuel to the already tense relations between Moscow and the West.

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