According to the New York Times, in a report citing unnamed U.S. officials, the Nord Stream pipeline attack last September may have been perpetrated by “a pro-Ukrainian group.”
The officials said they had no evidence that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky or top lieutenants were involved in the attack. They also ruled out that “the perpetrators acted under the direction of any Ukrainian government official.”
The operation “could have been carried out unofficially by a ‘proxy’ force with connections to the Ukrainian government or its security services,” the Times said, noting that there is also no evidence that Russian authorities were involved in the explosions.
The anonymous officials said that “more likely that the explosives were placed with the help of experienced divers who do not appear to work for the military or intelligence services.” They added that the perpetrators may have received “specialized training from the government in the past.”
The Times said U.S. President Joe Biden and his top aides “did not authorize” the attack, ruling out U.S. involvement.
Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh released an article last month accusing the U.S. of ordering the bombing and planting the explosives under cover of NATO’s BALTOPS 22 exercises.
According to Hersh, Norway helped U.S. divers place the explosives under the pipelines in June 2022.
