CIA Knew of North Stream Attack and Warned Ukraine Not to Proceed: WSJ
The CIA was aware of the planned attack on the North Stream pipeline three months ago and had asked Ukraine not to carry out such an operation, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The publication also reports that the preparation for the sabotage was led by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
According to the report, Dutch intelligence received information about a potential attack on the pipelines from an unnamed source back in June, three months before the series of underwater explosions. The Dutch subsequently informed the CIA and the Biden administration about this development, adds The Washington Post.
As reported by WSJ, citing sources, the CIA had asked Ukraine to refrain from the destruction of the gas pipeline.