International Editorial Team, Sep 26 (EFE).- One year after the explosions recorded on September 26, 2022 in the pipes of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, investigations have not resolved the enigma about who was responsible for the possible sabotage.
According to some information, the perpetrators of this incident, one of the darkest and most enigmatic of the war, could have left Ukraine, although this version is denied by its government.
The security services have also raised the hypothesis that it was a false flag operation in which clues were deliberately left that intended to hold Ukraine responsible.
The president of the Official Secrets Commission of the German parliament, Konstantin von Notz, has said, in statements reported by German public television, that for the moment we must resign ourselves to living in uncertainty although he is certain that behind the sabotage there is a state actor and not a group of common criminals.
While the justice system of Germany, Denmark and Sweden concludes their investigations, these are the most important events that have taken place during this last year:
September 26, 2022.- The German Government confirms a significant pressure drop in the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
September 27.- The Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 1 suffers a pressure drop after that experienced by Nord Stream 2.
– The Swedish National Seismic Service reports two explosions near the place where leaks from the Russian gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 were detected, raising suspicions of possible sabotage.
September 28.- Germany attributes the explosions to “possible sabotage”, after Denmark and Sweden echoed that idea.
– Russia opens a criminal case for international terrorism and points out the damage of the explosions for its country.
September 29.- The Swedish coast guard detects a fourth gas leak in the Russian gas pipeline and fears of an environmental catastrophe increase.
The next day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses the explosions of the Nord Stream gas pipelines with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses “Anglo-Saxon” countries of being behind the explosions.
Opening of the investigation process
October 6.- The Swedish Prosecutor’s Office reports that suspicions of possible sabotage have been “reinforced” after completing the inspection of the damaged pipes.
October 10.- The German Attorney General’s Office opens an investigation into the damage caused to gas pipelines.
October 27.- The German government considers that the two conduits of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline were disabled by the explosions.
October 28.- The Swedish State Attorney General’s Office opens new investigations into the damage to the gas pipelines themselves.
November 18.- Swedish authorities confirm the existence of remains of explosives.
Under investigation and without clear authorship
In March 2023, the Germans stated that they believe that the Nord Stream saboteurs came from Ukraine, while the Swedes and Danes point out that it is not clear who the authors are.
March 7.- A joint investigation by several German media affirms that the investigations carried out by the German authorities on sabotage point to pro-Ukrainian groups. A conclusion similar to that published the same day by The New York Times.
The following day, the German Prosecutor General’s Office reported the search, as part of its investigation, of a German vessel used by a Polish company that allegedly transported explosive material.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denies any connection between his government and the explosions.
March 13.- The head of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, rejects the possibility that Ukraine is behind the blowing up of the gas pipelines.
The UN Security Council rejected on March 27 a Russian proposal to launch an international investigation into sabotage.
April 6.- Swedish authorities report that it is still not clear who is the author of the sabotage.
April 28.- The Danish Navy reports that it sighted a special Russian ship days before the explosions in the area close to the sabotage.
August 25.- German investigators conclude that the attackers traveled from Ukraine and later returned to that country, according to the weekly “Der Spiegel.”
September 7.- The European Commission (EC) proposes a plan of response measures for incidents that have a “significant disruptive effect” on EU infrastructure.
