Putin’s Envoy Slams “Absurd Claim” of Russia Blowing Up Nord Stream After Italy Arrests Suspect

Moscow [Russia], August 24 :Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill A. Dmitriev has strongly criticised Western media outlets for alleging Moscow’s involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, calling it an “absurd claim.” His statement came shortly after Italian authorities arrested a Ukrainian national suspected of links to the blasts.

“Never forget exposed fake narratives. Legacy media pushed the absurd claim that Russia blew up Nord Stream, an absurd claim that Russia sabotaged its own energy infrastructure. Case study in narrative manufacturing: who funds, who frames, who amplifies. Same mechanisms to disinform over and over,” Dmitriev wrote on X.

The Nord Stream blasts in September 2022 caused massive leaks in the pipelines carrying Russian gas to Europe. At the time, European authorities reported sightings of naval vessels near the site, sparking suspicions of sabotage. The US and European leaders condemned the incident as sabotage but avoided direct accusations against Russia. Moscow has repeatedly rejected any involvement.

In 2023, Russia demanded access to European investigations and requested a UN Security Council discussion, but its appeals were turned down. Neither Nord Stream 1 nor 2 was operational during the blasts, though both pipelines remained pressurised.

Italian police confirmed the arrest of a suspect, identified under German privacy laws as Serhii K, in the city of Rimini. German prosecutors allege he was part of a team that planted explosives near Denmark’s Bornholm Island. He is expected to be extradited to Germany.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, expressing readiness to engage in talks with Putin while also pushing for stronger ties with African nations and urging the Global South to support peace initiatives.