Zelenskiy denies Ukraine role in Nord Stream blasts as two suspects held
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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Ukraine played no role in blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines and is cooperating with an investigation into the matter. Two Ukrainian suspects are currently in custody on suspicion of involvement. His comments came after German federal prosecutors suggested suspects may have acted on instructions from Ukrainian state structures.
Key Facts
- Zelenskiy said Ukraine has never officially taken part in any operations regarding the blowing up of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
- Two Ukrainian suspects are currently in custody on suspicion of involvement in the September 2022 explosions.
- A Croatian court issued an arrest warrant on August 20 for Ukrainian diver Vladimir Zh., the second suspect in the Nord Stream case.
- Zelenskiy said Ukraine has discussed the matter with the German side at a high level, and that Berlin knows Ukraine was not involved in planning or carrying out the operation.
- The Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were damaged in explosions in September 2022.
Zelenskiy's Denial
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Ukraine played no role in blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines and is cooperating with an investigation into the matter. "Ukraine has never officially taken part in any operations regarding the blowing up of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline," he told reporters in Kyiv. Speaking at the Nordic-Baltic Eight summit in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said the issue is not about what anyone wants, but about the investigation, the accusations, and the relevant witnesses. He said Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly conveyed this position to Berlin, and that German colleagues "know perfectly well" that Kyiv was not involved in planning or organizing the attack.
Suspects in Custody
Two Ukrainian suspects are currently in custody on suspicion of involvement in the September 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines between Russia and Germany. One suspect is being held in Germany, while the second was recently arrested in Croatia. A Croatian court issued an arrest warrant on August 20 for Ukrainian diver Vladimir Zh., the second suspect in the Nord Stream case. International media reported that the Ukrainian was detained on the set of the Hollywood film "Snake Island," directed by Doug Liman and starring Adrien Brody and Sean Penn. According to unconfirmed reports from Der Spiegel, the detained Ukrainian served as a consultant to the film crew.
German Investigation
The statement came amid an investigation by Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office, which has suggested that suspects in the sabotage may have acted on instructions from Ukrainian state structures. Earlier, several major Western media outlets reported, citing sources, that a group close to Ukraine's military command may indeed have been behind the planning of the sabotage. Those reports said President Zelenskiy himself was not aware of the preparation of the operation.
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Zelenskiy denies Ukraine role in Nord Stream blasts as two suspects held
