According to sources, Zelensky wanted to sabotage Nord Stream but changed his mind.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially approved plans to blow up the Nord Stream pipelines, but later tried to halt the sabotage, reports The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) based on anonymous sources.

Zelensky denies that Kyiv was involved in the attack in the Baltic Sea. However, WSJ writes, based on conversations with four senior Ukrainian defense and security officials, that the president was indeed aware. The sources spoke anonymously.

A small group of senior Ukrainian military personnel and businessmen reportedly came up with the plan in May 2022 during a toast to battlefield success. “Fueled by alcohol and patriotic enthusiasm,” one of them proposed the idea, according to the newspaper. The businessmen allegedly funded the operation, which cost $300,000 (€272,000).

According to one source, Zelensky initially approved the plan. The other three confirmed this.

CIA Requested President to Abort the Mission

The president changed his mind after a request from the CIA, the newspaper reports. The intelligence agency had asked Zelensky to call off the operation following a tip from the Dutch military intelligence service MIVD.

However, former General Valerii Zaluzhnyi reportedly said that it was too late; the sabotage team was already on its way, and contacting them could jeopardize the operation. Zaluzhnyi denied this in his conversation with WSJ.

Germany Investigating

German authorities are investigating the pipeline attack, with their focus reportedly now also on Zaluzhnyi.

Germany previously issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian in Poland, according to several German media outlets on Wednesday. Two other Ukrainians are also suspected.

The Nord Stream pipelines were blown up on September 26, 2022, causing damage to the pipelines and releasing a large amount of gas. The West suspected Russia of the sabotage, as it worsened the energy crisis in Europe. However, a German report earlier this year stated that there was no evidence of Russian involvement.