Russian spy spreads rumors Ukraine sabotaged Nord Stream 2

Russians quote Ukraine’s former deputy Andriey Derkach who claims that the identities of the soldiers allegedly responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline have been discovered. Derkach himself is accused of collaborating with the Russian GRU. Back in 2016 he took a thwarted attempt at opening a radio station in Poland.

Derkach told the BelTA news agency from Belarus, that he knew the identities of almost all participants in the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines allegedly perpetrated by Ukraine. In this context, he mentions Colonel Roman Chervinsky, already described in Western media as a potential architect of the plot, as well as Andrei Burgomistrenko, Oleg Varava, Sergei Kuznetsov (SBU officer) and Ruslan Rudenko (Mayor of Bila Tserkva), as well as Marina Sitalo. The latter, according to Derkach, is one of the specialized divers trained in building explosives.

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were the target of sabotage on September 26, 2022. Neither of the pipes was pumping gas, but a series of explosions blew up three of the four lines, ruling out the possibility of them returning to operation. Since then, investigations have continued in Denmark, Sweden and Germany in search of the perpetrators. The German investigation continues and there are leaks suggesting Ukrainians are to blame. The Russians accused first the British, then the American intelligence, and now they suggest it was actually Ukraine.

Derkach’s words were commented on by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who called on prosecutors investigating the sabotage of Nord Stream 1 and 2 in the West to take into account this version. “If this information deserves attention now, then maybe the Danes, Swedes and others should look at it,” Peskov said.

It is worth recalling that Andriy Derkach was recognized as a spy of the Russian military intelligence GRU and an alleged member of a network that was preparing assassinations in Ukraine. He reportedly received 3-4 million dollars every few months for cooperation with the Russians. Derkach also tried to establish ERA FM radio in Poland. The deal was blocked by Polish Radio in 2016.

Vedomosti / Wojciech Jakóbik