German investigators are looking for technical evidence to suggest that people with ties to Ukraine were behind the Nord Stream sabotage, Der Spiegel and ZDF report.
German media have published two comprehensive Reportage regarding the investigation into last year’s sabotage of Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
None of the sources are named. The media wrote that the issue is very politically sensitive.
On September 26 last year, leaks were reported from the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
The pipelines carried natural gas from Russia to Germany, but were not operational when the sabotage occurred.
Ukraine has previously accused Russia of being behind the explosion that occurred in Swedish and Danish waters. The Danish, Swedish and German authorities launched an investigation into the leak, and it became clear early on that it was a case of explosive sabotage.
Hope trial
In an interview with Der Spiegel and ZDF German Interior Minister Nancy Weser said she hoped someone would be brought to justice for the attack.
I hope federal prosecutors find enough evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice. We must deal with such crimes in court. She says it also boosts citizens’ trust in the law when she can clear up such complex cases.
When asked about the political consequences of this if it turns out to be a link between the attackers and Ukraine, Vizer said she did not want to speculate.
Sailboats in Poland
In July, European diplomats told the UN Security Council that investigators had found traces of underwater explosives in samples taken from a dhow inspected in connection with the investigation.
They also said it was not yet possible to determine what kind of motives the perpetrators had, nor their identity, or whether specific countries were involved.
In March, several media outlets reported that a pro-Ukrainian group was involved in the sabotage.
A schooner chartered to a Ukrainian-owned company in Poland is said to have been used in connection with the attacks. They also wrote that the boat used the German port of Rostock as a staging post for the operation.
According to German media, five men and a woman used this sailboat.
– He was in Ukraine before and after
In this regard, German investigators refused to comment on the reports, but confirmed that they had searched a boat in January.
They also added that it was suspected of being used to transport explosives used to blow up pipelines.
This time, ZDF and Der Spiegel reported that technical evidence leads investigators to believe the group was in Ukraine before and after the attack.
The German Public Prosecutor’s Office did not comment on this information this time either.
Ukraine denied being behind the sabotage.
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