According to the report, the operation was led by a former Ukrainian intelligence officer and cost approximately USD 300,000, which was "privately financed." The plan to destroy the pipelines was conceived before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with preparations intensifying in February 2022.
Der Spiegel claimed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was unaware of the mission and that attempts by the United States to halt the operation were unsuccessful.
The magazine also identified Roman Chervinsky, a former officer in Ukraine's intelligence services, as the individual responsible for planning and executing the operation. He allegedly assembled and trained a team that carried out the mission using a chartered sailing yacht.
The saboteurs aimed to inflict significant damage on Russia's war economy and to deprive Moscow of billions in revenue from gas sales to Europe, considering the pipelines a legitimate military target, according to the report. The article noted that Russian state-owned company Gazprom maintained two mercenary companies.
Der Spiegel also reported that discussions about targeting Nord Stream began years before the Russian invasion, with efforts intensifying after Russia's aggression in February 2022.
Chervinsky has denied involvement in the sabotage, dismissing the allegations as "baseless Russian propaganda" in previous statements.
(jh)
Source: DW, Der Spiegel