New findings on Nord Stream 2 explosion – what we know Michelle Obama: cried 30 minutes after Trump’s inauguration

What happened?

On the night of September 26 last year, the operator of the two Nord Stream pipelines reported a pressure drop in three of the four pipes. Initial investigations discovered three leaks southeast of the Danish island of Bornholm, and a few days later a 200-metre-long crack was found in one of the pipes.

It wasn’t long before Denmark reported that it wasn’t an accident: the timing and proximity of the leaks raised suspicions that it was deliberate sabotage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called it an “act of international terrorism” and “unprecedented sabotage”. The German authorities also assumed sabotage: calculations showed that highly effective explosives had been used. There was intense media speculation about who was behind the alleged attack – the main suspect being Russia itself.

What’s new?

A recent report by a German media consortium reveals new clues about the progress of the demolition. The German investigative services are said to have made a breakthrough. This time the tracks lead to the Ukraine.

Investigators managed to identify the boat allegedly used for the attack. It is said to be a private yacht chartered by a Polish-based company, but owned by two Ukrainians.

According to the report, the ship departed from Rostock, Germany, on Sept. 6. On board: a captain, two divers, two dive assistants and a doctor. Investigators were able to retroactively locate the boat the next day off the Danish island of Christiansø, northeast of Bornholm. The killers are said to have taken the explosives to the pipelines during this period and placed them there.

Which explosive? Explosives, which the investigators were apparently able to prove on the boat. The ship was returned in an uncleaned condition. During an investigation, traces of explosives were found on the table in the cabin.

What does the US say?

It is also suspected on the American side that a pro-Ukrainian group is behind the attack. In a vague article, the New York Times relies on a new intelligence report.

No specific information was given as to why such a group was responsible for the attack or what led the Secret Service to believe it. The U.S. government, while acknowledging the report’s existence, did not provide any information about the safety of its contents or how the report came about.

However, what the US authorities have made clear is that there is no evidence that Volodymyr Zelenskyy or his top generals were complicit. There are also no indications that the perpetrators acted under the direction of Ukrainian government officials.

Who else is accused?

The theory of a Russian “false flag operation” is still floating around. Russian actors allegedly carried out the attack and deliberately spread evidence of pro-Ukrainian perpetrators. This is meant to shift the blame to Ukraine.

It wouldn’t be the first time Russia has been accused of such a false flag operation. The theory is widespread that the attacks on Russian residential buildings, which eventually sparked the second Chechen war, were not carried out by Chechen terrorists at all, but by Russian agents.

Meanwhile, the US is also accused of the attack. Legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh claims to have discovered that the explosives were planted by US Navy divers and then detonated remotely. The entire action took place under the guise of a NATO exercise and was directly ordered by the White House. Hersh cites an anonymous source who “seems to know a great deal about what was going on”.

What’s next?

It is unclear how long the official investigation will take. Should Denmark, Germany or Sweden come to the conclusion that Ukrainian circles were actually behind the attack, this would certainly strain bilateral relations between Berlin and Kiev.

However, an adviser to President Zelensky said on short message service Twitter on Tuesday that Ukraine had nothing to do with the “accident” in the Baltic Sea.

Repairing the damaged pipelines could cost more than $500 million, according to the New York Times. Last week, the Reuters news agency reported that the owner of the pipeline, Zug-based Nord Stream AG, had no current plans to carry out the repairs. Nord Stream AG is majority owned by the Russian state energy company Gazprom.