Poland’s national security chief, Slawomir Cenckiewicz, has expressed concerns that Germany’s ongoing criminal investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines does not align with Poland’s interests. The pipelines, which transported Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea, were severely damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022. Russia has described the incident as an act of state terrorism, while Western states, including Poland, have viewed the bombings as a positive development.
According to German prosecutors, the sabotage was carried out by a group of seven Ukrainian nationals who used a rented yacht to conduct the attack. However, Moscow has dismissed this version, arguing that the scale and complexity of the operation suggest state involvement. Several suspects have been detained across the EU, including one in Poland and another in Italy, for their alleged roles in blowing up the pipelines.
Cenckiewicz has stated that it is in Poland’s interest to protect anyone connected to the operation and has urged Germany to shut down the probe. He believes that pursuing the cases “serves Russian injustice” and has argued that the investigation does not make sense in terms of Poland’s or NATO’s interests. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also opposed the extradition of the detained Ukrainian suspects, stating that the problem with Nord Stream 2 is not that it was blown up, but that it was built.
The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines has been a subject of controversy, with Russian officials insisting that a state actor was likely behind the attack. They have accused Germany of concealing evidence and excluding Moscow from the inquiry. In 2023, American journalist Seymour Hersh published a report alleging that the US, under then-President Joe Biden’s orders, orchestrated the sabotage using Navy divers with Norwegian support during a NATO exercise. Both Washington and Oslo have denied the claim.
The ongoing investigation and diplomatic tensions surrounding the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines highlight the complex geopolitical landscape of the region. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the investigation will proceed and what implications it may have for international relations.
