Zelensky’s aide denies Ukraine was behind Nord Stream sabotage act

Source: Reuters

Ukraine’s Presidential Office has flatly denied any involvement in the explosive sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines following emerging reports it was blown up by Ukrainian saboteurs.  The allegations got a cold reaction from Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who  dismissed the idea that Ukraine was behind the sabotage attack

“Such an act can only be carried out with extensive technical and financial resources … and who possessed all this at the time of the bombing? Only Russia, said Zelensky’s aide in his comments for Reuters, arguing Kyiv gained no strategic or tactical advantage from the incident.

This denial comes after The Wall Street Journal dropped a report suggesting that president Zelensky might have given a go-ahead to the operation back in 2022. According to WSJ, Zelensky allegedly discussed the plot with top military officials and businessmen, including then-commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny. The report though claims Zelensky tried to call off the operation after the CIA got wind of it.

Sources also revealed that the plan, which reportedly required $300,000 to execute, was discussed in May 2022.  Zelensky allegedly sought to halt the mission but the sabotage team was already out of contact and beyond recall. Despite an ongoing investigation in Germany, no direct link between Zelensky and the explosions has been established.

For his part, Zaluzhny has categorically denied any knowledge of such an operation, dismissing the rumors as “pure provocation.” He noted that the Ukrainian military lacks the authority to carry out such overseas missions, insisting he had no role in the alleged plot.