Nord Stream sabotage suspect under ‘direct command’ of Ukrainian army

{"text":[[{"start":8.4,"text":"The alleged leader of the Nord Stream pipeline saboteurs was under the “direct command” of Ukraine’s military at the time of the attack, according to affidavits from his superiors submitted to a German court on Tuesday."}],[{"start":21.32,"text":"German prosecutors accuse Serhii Kuznetsov, a former captain in Ukraine’s armed forces, of carrying out one of the most daring acts of sabotage in Europe since the second world war."}],[{"start":32.2,"text":"The 50-year-old, who was arrested while on holiday in Italy last year and extradited to Germany, has been charged with causing an explosion, damaging property and being an accomplice to war crimes."}],[{"start":43.76,"text":"The September 2022 destruction of Nord Stream pipelines One and Two severed the main arteries for cheap Russian natural gas to Germany and shone a spotlight on Europe’s tortured efforts to economically distance itself from Moscow after it invaded Ukraine."}],[{"start":59.68,"text":"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly and categorically denied Ukrainian state involvement in the attack."}],[{"start":66.64,"text":"Three new pieces of evidence were read aloud in court on Tuesday, including two notarised affidavits from Kuznetsov’s former military superiors and official records relating to his service during the period when the attacks occurred."}],[{"start":79.12,"text":"Kuznetsov has declined to speak in his own defence, even to his lawyers, citing his obligation to maintain a military oath of secrecy. His legal team has submitted a motion to have the trial dismissed."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":91.44,"text":"“Captain Kuznetsov consistently and conscientiously carried out all tasks assigned to the units of the special forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine related to the resistance against Russian aggression against Ukraine,” said a statement by Colonel Roman Chervinsky, the former deputy commander of Kuznetsov’s unit, in a statement referring to the period of the attack."}],[{"start":111.84,"text":"Kuznetsov was under his “direct command” until October 2022, Chervinsky said. He added: “Captain Kuznetsov never left his place of duty of his own accord and without the authorisation of the commander-in-chief.”"}],[{"start":125.4,"text":"Chervinsky also wrote that the Nord Stream pipelines were a legitimate target, as they “bear direct responsibility for the material and financial support of actions that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”. Chervinsky is currently fighting a protracted and unrelated legal case over alleged abuse of office."}],[{"start":147.8,"text":"At the time of the attack, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces was Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi."}],[{"start":154.52,"text":"Zaluzhnyi — who has also publicly denied any role in the Nord Stream incident — was removed by Zelenskyy in 2024 and became Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK."}],[{"start":165.72,"text":"A statement from Colonel Yurii Semeniuk, the former commander of Kuznetsov’s unit, said: “Kuznetsov never left his place of duty of his own accord and without the authorisation of his superior.”"}],[{"start":176.96,"text":"Both Chervinsky and Semeniuk were involved in organising the botched 2020 “Wagnergate” operation to attempt to abduct Wagner Group mercenaries fighting for pro-Russian separatist forces in the Donbas and bring them to justice in Ukraine."}],[{"start":192,"text":"The court in Hamburg additionally heard from a police explosives expert about the blasts which destroyed the pipelines."}],[{"start":198.76,"text":"Six explosive charges were laid in total, in separate clusters, some more than 77km apart."}],[{"start":205.44,"text":"An initial explosion caused catastrophic damage to two sections of pipeline: due to the pressure the gas was under, the pipelines made of 2.7cm-thick steel and reinforced with a concrete coat thrashed around on the sea floor like a water hose, causing further breakages and ruptures. Nearly 300 metres of one pipeline tore itself apart and 250 metres of the other, the court heard."}],[{"start":235.32,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1793167558_7068.mp3"}