A new book by Danish journalist Bo Elkjær claims that Ukrainian divers placed timed explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. The book, titled Nord Stream: The Hidden War, is set to be released next month. Elkjær based his account on interviews with two divers who said they carried out the operation in September 2022. The divers described how they attached explosive devices to the pipelines during a covert underwater mission. Their identities remain undisclosed in the book.
The Danish newspaper Berlingske first reported on the book’s contents on Friday. According to the divers, the explosives were detonated remotely from a nearby vessel. They stated the operation aimed to disrupt Russian gas exports to Europe during the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The divers claimed they acted under orders from Ukrainian military intelligence, though no official confirmation has been provided.
Nord Stream AG, the company that operated the pipelines, has not responded to requests for comment. The pipelines were severely damaged in a series of explosions in late September 2022, which disrupted gas flows to Europe. Investigations by Germany, Sweden, and Denmark concluded that the blasts were caused by sabotage, but no group has taken responsibility.
The book’s author said he spent two years verifying the divers’ accounts. He interviewed them separately over multiple sessions in Ukraine and Denmark. Elkjær wrote that the divers described the operation in detail, including the equipment used and the route taken to the pipeline sites. He added that they expressed no regret over the attack, viewing it as a necessary measure against Russian energy leverage.
The claims come as tensions remain high between Ukraine and Russia over energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russia of weaponizing gas supplies during the war. The Nord Stream explosions worsened Europe’s energy shortages and led to a scramble for alternative gas sources.
Source: tu.no