Intelligence suggests pro-Ukraine group behind pipeline bombings: report

WASHINGTON

Intelligence reviewed by US officials suggests pro-Ukrainian groups may have been behind the bombings of key gas pipelines that were intended to send gas from Russia to western Ukraine, according to a report published Tuesday.

The suspected sabotage attack on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines have been shrouded in mystery since they transpired in September amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The multi-billion-dollar pipelines were shorn by large explosions that sent natural gas shooting through the ocean and into the air.

US officials who spoke to the New York Times said they had seen no evidence tying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or his senior officials to the attacks. The intelligence they reviewed does not specify individuals nor who may have directed or paid for the attack.

It does note, however, they were opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Times reported. The officials did not discuss the nature of the intelligence nor how strong it is. The US has not made any firm conclusions from it, which leaves the door open to the possibility that a Ukrainian proxy force may have been responsible.

The officials are divided about how much trust to put into the intelligence, the newspaper reported.

The officials said the attackers were likely Ukrainian, Russian or a combination thereof, and ruled out the possibility that any Americans or British nationals were involved.

European officials have previously said they believe the attack was likely state-sponsored, in part, due to the complex nature of the operation. The US has previously stopped short of such an assertion.

Ukraine and the US had long warned that Nord Stream 2 posed national security risks because it would allow Russia to circumvent an existing pipeline that runs through Ukraine, and would allow for Moscow to instead send energy directly to Germany. But Kyiv has steadfastly denied any involvement in the apparent attacks and blamed Russia.

Russia, in turn, blamed the UK. None of the parties presented any evidence to substantiate their claims.

Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh self-published an article in February in which he said the US was responsible, pointing in part to statements from President Joe Biden who said the US would "bring an end" to Nord Stream 2 if Russia invaded Ukraine.

“I promise you we’ll be able to do it,” Biden said, roughly two weeks before Russia began its offensive.

The US has denied any involvement in the attacks.

Asked about the Times' report, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the focus needs to be on the conclusion of investigations being led by Germany, Sweden and Denmark, "and only then should we be looking at what follow on actions might or may not be appropriate."