German government denounces Nord Stream pipeline attack as crime

Spokesman for the German Federal Government Steffen Hebestreit has said that the German government does not share the view held by Polish and Czech authorities that the Nord Stream pipelines could have been a legitimate target for Ukraine.

“Instead, they consider the sabotage of the pipelines to be a crime,” Hebestreit told reporters during a press briefing, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

He noted that the German government does not agree with the Polish and Czech position that if Ukraine was responsible for the pipeline explosions, it would have been a legitimate target for Kyiv. 

"He [the Chancellor] has clearly expressed this position over the past months during discussions with Polish and Czech officials, as well as many other international partners, stating that he views it as a crime and that such a crime should be investigated," Hebestreit said, reminding that the German Federal Prosecutor's Office continues its investigation. 

The Nord Stream pipelines, consisting of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, are major natural gas pipelines running from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. They are significant for European energy supply, as they deliver Russian natural gas directly to Europe, bypassing traditional transit countries like Ukraine and Poland. On September 26, 2022, a series of explosions caused significant damage to both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The explosions occurred in the Baltic Sea, causing leaks and leading to a loss of gas pressure in the pipelines.

The explosions led to environmental damage, with methane gas leaking into the Baltic Sea. They also disrupted the energy supply, impacting Europe's energy security and raising concerns about potential long-term consequences for the region's energy infrastructure.