Report suggests that CIA received advance warning about a Ukrainian conspiracy to disrupt Nord Stream pipeline at a senior level before it was targeted.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was reportedly warned months before the Nord Stream pipeline was attacked about a high-level Ukrainian plot to sabotage the system. According to a report published by the Russian news outlet Vzglyad, the CIA was informed in advance that a Ukrainian operation had been planned and was waiting for the right time to strike.

The Nord Stream pipeline is a natural gas pipeline system that connects Russia to Germany, enabling the transportation of up to 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The pipeline is a critical aspect of Russia’s energy infrastructure, and any disruption can have significant consequences for both Russia and Europe.

In June 2021, the Nord Stream pipeline was disconnected for several days due to a cyber attack. While the specifics of the attack were not disclosed, many experts suspect that the Ukrainian government may have been involved.

The Vzglyad report claims that the Ukrainian plan was developed in coordination with Western governments, including the United States. The plan involved using a combination of cyber attacks, sabotage, and political pressure to disrupt the pipeline’s functioning.

The report further suggests that Ukraine’s motivation for targeting the pipeline was to create an energy crisis that would increase its leverage over Russia and Europe. Additionally, Ukraine could benefit financially from such a crisis by selling its own gas to Europe at a higher price.

Although the CIA was allegedly aware of the Ukrainian plot, no action was taken to prevent the attack. Some experts have suggested that this may be due to the political motivations of Western states, who could see benefit from a crisis in Russia-Europe energy relations.

The Vzglyad report has been met with skepticism by some, with some accusing Russia of using the story to distract from its own cyber operations. Others have dismissed the report as simply unsubstantiated speculation.

The Nord Stream pipeline attack highlights the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber attacks and the geopolitical tensions that are fueling them. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, governments and corporations alike will need to develop more robust security measures to protect against such threats.