Recently, German news magazine Der Spiegel landed a bombshell: the prime suspect behind the dramatic Nord Stream pipeline explosions was, in fact, an active-duty captain in a Ukrainian special operations unit at the time of the attack. ⚡️
This revelation comes after Der Spiegel obtained a classified document from Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and interviewed a former Ukrainian military officer. The document1sent to the Ukrainian Parliament's Human Rights Commissioner1confirms the suspect served from August 10, 2022, to November 28, 2023, in a special forces unit. The ex-officer even vouched, "he carried out all orders of our unit, and was not permitted to leave his post without authorization."
The suspect was arrested this summer while vacationing with his family in Italy and extradited to Germany in late November. He's now in a German jail cell, waiting for trial. His lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, has appealed to the Federal Court of Justice of Germany, arguing that, under international law, his client cannot be prosecuted for actions carried out on orders from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
On September 26, 20221three years ago1powerful explosions rocked sections of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea near Denmark and Sweden, causing huge gas leaks. Investigators later confirmed that three of the four undersea lines were sabotaged deliberately.
As the case moves forward, Europe's energy security and the question of accountability remain in the spotlight. Stay tuned for updates on this high-stakes drama that bridges geopolitics, military orders, and the fight for justice. 🌍
Reference(s):
Nord Stream sabotage suspect reported to be Ukrainian soldier
cgtn.com
