A report by the German newspaper BILD takes a closer look at the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, an incident widely described as one of the most significant geopolitical attacks in recent years.
The outlet spoke with Wall Street Journal journalist Bojan Pancevski, who co-authored the book “The Nord Stream Blast” with Paul Ronzheimer. According to BILD’s account, Pancevski was given rare access by the Ukrainian military, allowing him to meet individuals involved in planning and carrying out the operation, as well as German investigators who worked extensively to uncover what happened.
The book claims the attack was orchestrated by former Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny, now serving as ambassador to the United Kingdom. It also states that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was aware that his officers were preparing such an operation.
Perceptions of the attack differ sharply. In Ukraine, it is reportedly viewed by some as a successful military action, while in Germany it is broadly condemned. The report highlights the story of a woman identified in the book as Freya, described as the only female member of the diving team involved in the sabotage.
Freya is portrayed as a highly skilled diver with a past that did not suggest involvement in a military operation. According to the reporting, she had previously spent time in Kiev’s nightlife scene and occasionally worked as a model, including posing for provocative photo shoots earlier in her life.
The account suggests that her presence in the group also served a practical purpose. If questioned, the team reportedly planned to claim they were filming underwater adult content as a cover for their activities.