The Blubber

According to The Washington Post, leaked information posted online reveals that the United States became aware of a Ukrainian plot to target the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines three months before the underwater explosions damaged them in September of last year.

As per the report, the CIA received intelligence in June of that year from a European spy agency indicating that a team of six Ukrainian special operations forces intended to sabotage the Russia-to-Germany project by causing explosions.

The leaked intelligence report was allegedly shared on Discord by Jack Teixeira, a member of the Air National Guard who was arrested in April and charged in connection with the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive U.S. documents. The Washington Post obtained a copy of the report from one of Teixeira's online acquaintances.

Based on information provided by an individual in Ukraine, the intelligence report was shared by the CIA with Germany and other European countries in June 2022.

Multiple officials from different countries have reportedly confirmed the accuracy of the intelligence summary that was posted on Discord, detailing what the European intelligence agency had informed the CIA.

In response to questions regarding The Post's report, White House spokesperson John Kirby stated on Monday that investigations into the Nord Stream attack were ongoing, emphasizing that they would not want to preempt those investigations by making premature statements.

The political focus on Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas was heightened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines expedited the region's transition to alternative energy suppliers.

Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, consisting of two pipelines each, were constructed by Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to transport 110 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Germany.

At the request of government officials and to safeguard sources and operations, The Washington Post agreed not to disclose the name of the European intelligence agency involved and certain details of the suspected plan.