American intelligence not only knew about the plans for the Nord Stream sabotage early on but initially supported the Ukrainian saboteurs, according to an investigation by Der Spiegel published on February 19, 2026. According to German journalists, CIA officers met with the perpetrators in Kyiv in the spring of 2022, approving the idea of disabling the energy infrastructure to deprive Moscow of windfall export profits. Although Washington later officially distanced itself from the operation and even attempted to stop it, the initial “green light” from the U.S. proved to be a decisive factor in the sabotage.
A Secret Dinner in Podil: How the CIA Recruited the Idea
Contacts between the Ukrainian group and U.S. intelligence agencies were established immediately after Russian forces retreated from Kyiv. A meeting took place at a restaurant in the Podil district, where Ukrainian deep-sea operation specialists presented their plan to destroy the pipelines. The Americans’ reaction was far from diplomatically reserved. CIA officers listened to the briefing with clear interest, confirming the plan’s technical feasibility with remarks like, “That’s good, it will work.” The planners left with the distinct impression that the United States might not only turn a blind eye to the sabotage but also help finance it.
A 180-Degree Turn and Vague Warnings
The White House’s stance began to shift only in the summer of 2022, as the scale of potential geopolitical consequences became apparent. The CIA attempted to talk the Ukrainian side out of the plan, but the momentum of preparation was already too great. To protect themselves, the Americans sent a warning to Germany and other NATO allies in June 2022—three months before the explosions—about possible attacks in the Baltic Sea. However, this information was worded so vaguely that European security services were unable to prevent the strike. A CIA spokesperson, in a comment to Der Spiegel, called the version of events involving support for the plans “completely and utterly false,” a denial consistent with classic intelligence responses in such “spy thrillers.”
Private Funding and the Yacht “Andromeda”
After official Washington refused to allocate a budget for the operation, the Ukrainian group moved to an autonomous mode. A private sponsor, whose name investigators have not yet disclosed, provided $300,000 in funding. This sum, comparable to the price of a luxury apartment in Kyiv, covered the rental of the yacht “Andromeda,” the purchase of professional diving equipment, and the acquisition of powerful explosives. German investigators now state with a high degree of confidence that the explosions on September 26, 2022, were carried out by a Ukrainian team inspired by the initial support of U.S. intelligence agencies.
