Ukraine denies involvement in Nord Stream blasts

Ukraine was not involved in the explosions that targeted the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022, rendering them inoperable, the country's prosecutor general said on Thursday.

The statement came as a former Ukrainian soldier faces trial in Germany over masterminding the blasts, charged with being a co-perpetrator of a war crime. The defendant, Serhii K., denies the charges.

Berlin believes the blasts were ordered by Ukrainian state entities whom it has not specified.

What did Ukraine say about the Nord Stream blasts?

In a statement on Thursday, the Ukrainian prosecutor general said its investigation revealed no evidence so far indicating Kyiv's involvement, neither at the level of official entities nor individual officials.

"At the same time, the ​investigation into these circumstances is not yet complete, and the necessary evidence is still being gathered and examined," the prosecutor general's office said.

The prosecutor general proposed forming a joint investigation team with Berlin to further probe the issue. The office said it continued to cooperate with German authorities on the matter.

"Ukraine is prepared to help clarify all the facts of the case," the office said.

Nord Stream: Germany's thwarted dream of energy security

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What do we know about the Nord Stream blasts?

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were set up to deliver Russian gas to Germany and other countries in Europe.

Nord Stream 2 had yet to enter service when in September 2022, months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent European sanctions on Russian oil exports, both pipelines were the subject of sabotage blasts.

Sehrii K. was arrested in Italy last summer and transferred to Germany in November.

German prosecutors allege that he collaborated with other Ukrainian military personnel to plan and execute the 2022 attacks, when he was an active army officer.

The goal was to permanently disrupt gas deliveries and cut Russia's war financing, prosecutors argue.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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