As in the days following the Nord Stream pipeline bombing last year, the breach of the Kakhovka dam has sparked conjecture and blame-shifting between Russia and Ukraine.
Reports show that Moscow and Kyiv instantly pointed fingers at one other when the dam broke. Moscow claims that Ukraine fired a volley of missiles at the dam and a neighboring hydroelectric facility to cut off water supplies to Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine claims that Russian spies blew up a dam and power plant “from the inside,” which would violate the Geneva Convention.
Three large holes were blown in the Nord Stream pipelines 1 and 2 testing on the bed of the Baltic Sea, a scenario identical to the one that had unfolded in the previous month. Russia accused Ukraine, and the other way round, but neither side had solid proof. One of the most devastating assaults on civilian buildings since World War II, the occurrence instead sparked an international inquiry headed by Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.
European authorities first suspected Russia. Although Russia would have lost significant power and control over Europe’s energy supplies, some have speculated that Moscow blew the pipelines to terrify Europe and demonstrate Moscow’s skills at attacking crucial infrastructure. The evidence implicating Russia is speculative.
It was also speculated that the United States or Ukraine were to blame. President Joe Biden was caught on tape saying he would “bring an end” to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invaded Ukraine. Vice President Biden’s remarks on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline reflected the United States’ long-standing opposition to the project because Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas posed a national security concern.
According to a report, three explosions smashed across the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, killing 45 people and damaging hundreds of miles of pipeline. U.S. intelligence had known for months that Ukraine was plotting a clandestine assault on the infrastructure.
According to a source, the Biden administration learned in June 2022 that Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the highest-ranking military commander in Ukraine, had ordered special forces operators to damage the pipelines.
The paper detailing the information gathered by the United States was among hundreds that were reportedly shared publicly by Jack Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman.
