٠٠:٠٧:٠٨Mandatory credit: UNTV. News use only
Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia mocked claims that the Nord Stream blasts could've been the work of 'Ukrainian amateur divers' and insisted that it was the work of state-sponsored operatives, during a meeting of the Security Council in New York on Friday.
"It's the implausibility of assertions about the fact that who was involved in these explosions, it's an out of control group of amateur divers, Ukrainian amateur divers," he said. "It could work for a Hollywood blockbuster, but it's not fitting for real life. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of experts assert that without state support, such explosions are simply impossible."
In August, US media reports suggested the blasts at the pipelines on September 26, 2022 were the work of a privately-funded operation on a 'shoestring', which President Volodymyr Zelensky initially approved but later tried to backtrack on. Kiev has always strongly denied any involvement.
Nebenzia also criticised the investigations by Denmark and Sweden, saying the "only conclusion that was drawn following 18 months of work was that the Nord Stream pipelines were deliberately destroyed using explosive devices."
He also accused the US of blocking actions by the Council to insist on speed and transparency of the Berlin investigation, under the guise of not exerting 'pressure'.
In August, the German press claimed prosecutors had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor, known as 'Volodymyr Z', who was allegedly part of a team planting the explosives - and had issued a warrant for his arrest in Poland. However, Warsaw stated that he had left the country, and claimed Berlin had failed to add his name to the 'wanted' list.
"We see suspicions cropping up, suspicions about what was done or wasn't done by the authorities in the US, Norway, the UK, Germany, but also Poland, Poland where supposedly no only helped one of the suspects to hide," Nebenzia continued.
"Colleagues, if you think that through your obstructionism, you will discourage us, that you will dent our determination to determine who was responsible for the explosion and punish them, then you are mistaken," he added.
Meanwhile the US representative, Acting Political Coordinator Andrew Curiel said there was 'no shred of evidence' of Washington's involvement and accused Moscow of trying to distract attention from the conflict with Kiev, while the UK similarly called on Russia to "translate its stated concern for the protection of civilian infrastructure into action by immediately ceasing such attacks" inside Ukraine.
Later, Chinese representative Geng Shuang questioned the absence of a full international investigation into the blasts and urged members to back Russia’s proposed presidential statement characterising the incident as a deliberate act of terrorism.
“Is there something else going on? For the past two years or so, whether evidence has been covered up and destroyed and the trust and time we put in, when will the truth of the matter be revealed?” Geng said.
“We believe that the current draft includes an objective presentation of facts, reflecting the concerns of all parties. We hope that the parties will intensify their consultation and agree on the draft as soon as possible and send a clear signal to the outside world,” he added.
Russia has repeatedly denied hitting civilian targets during that conflict. Meanwhile, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang questioned whether "evidence [has] been covered up and destroyed over the past two years or so".
"When will the trust and time we have given be rewarded with the truth about what happened?" he asked.
Over the past two years, US media reports have suggested Washington had intelligence suggesting a 'pro-Ukrainian group' was behind the explosions, and even claimed that the US had prior knowledge of a planned attack, up to three months before the blasts took place.
The White House itself was also implicated, following an article by journalist Seymour Hersh who alleged that explosives were planted on Joe Biden’s orders - which the administration called 'utterly false and total fiction'.
Fine for Hollywood, not real life! Russian rep mocks 'Ukrainian amateur divers' version of Nord Stream blasts
Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia mocked claims that the Nord Stream blasts could've been the work of 'Ukrainian amateur divers' and insisted that it was the work of state-sponsored operatives, during a meeting of the Security Council in New York on Friday.
"It's the implausibility of assertions about the fact that who was involved in these explosions, it's an out of control group of amateur divers, Ukrainian amateur divers," he said. "It could work for a Hollywood blockbuster, but it's not fitting for real life. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of experts assert that without state support, such explosions are simply impossible."
In August, US media reports suggested the blasts at the pipelines on September 26, 2022 were the work of a privately-funded operation on a 'shoestring', which President Volodymyr Zelensky initially approved but later tried to backtrack on. Kiev has always strongly denied any involvement.
Nebenzia also criticised the investigations by Denmark and Sweden, saying the "only conclusion that was drawn following 18 months of work was that the Nord Stream pipelines were deliberately destroyed using explosive devices."
He also accused the US of blocking actions by the Council to insist on speed and transparency of the Berlin investigation, under the guise of not exerting 'pressure'.
In August, the German press claimed prosecutors had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor, known as 'Volodymyr Z', who was allegedly part of a team planting the explosives - and had issued a warrant for his arrest in Poland. However, Warsaw stated that he had left the country, and claimed Berlin had failed to add his name to the 'wanted' list.
"We see suspicions cropping up, suspicions about what was done or wasn't done by the authorities in the US, Norway, the UK, Germany, but also Poland, Poland where supposedly no only helped one of the suspects to hide," Nebenzia continued.
"Colleagues, if you think that through your obstructionism, you will discourage us, that you will dent our determination to determine who was responsible for the explosion and punish them, then you are mistaken," he added.
Meanwhile the US representative, Acting Political Coordinator Andrew Curiel said there was 'no shred of evidence' of Washington's involvement and accused Moscow of trying to distract attention from the conflict with Kiev, while the UK similarly called on Russia to "translate its stated concern for the protection of civilian infrastructure into action by immediately ceasing such attacks" inside Ukraine.
Later, Chinese representative Geng Shuang questioned the absence of a full international investigation into the blasts and urged members to back Russia’s proposed presidential statement characterising the incident as a deliberate act of terrorism.
“Is there something else going on? For the past two years or so, whether evidence has been covered up and destroyed and the trust and time we put in, when will the truth of the matter be revealed?” Geng said.
“We believe that the current draft includes an objective presentation of facts, reflecting the concerns of all parties. We hope that the parties will intensify their consultation and agree on the draft as soon as possible and send a clear signal to the outside world,” he added.
Russia has repeatedly denied hitting civilian targets during that conflict. Meanwhile, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang questioned whether "evidence [has] been covered up and destroyed over the past two years or so".
"When will the trust and time we have given be rewarded with the truth about what happened?" he asked.
Over the past two years, US media reports have suggested Washington had intelligence suggesting a 'pro-Ukrainian group' was behind the explosions, and even claimed that the US had prior knowledge of a planned attack, up to three months before the blasts took place.
The White House itself was also implicated, following an article by journalist Seymour Hersh who alleged that explosives were planted on Joe Biden’s orders - which the administration called 'utterly false and total fiction'.
Mandatory credit: UNTV. News use only
Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia mocked claims that the Nord Stream blasts could've been the work of 'Ukrainian amateur divers' and insisted that it was the work of state-sponsored operatives, during a meeting of the Security Council in New York on Friday.
"It's the implausibility of assertions about the fact that who was involved in these explosions, it's an out of control group of amateur divers, Ukrainian amateur divers," he said. "It could work for a Hollywood blockbuster, but it's not fitting for real life. Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of experts assert that without state support, such explosions are simply impossible."
In August, US media reports suggested the blasts at the pipelines on September 26, 2022 were the work of a privately-funded operation on a 'shoestring', which President Volodymyr Zelensky initially approved but later tried to backtrack on. Kiev has always strongly denied any involvement.
Nebenzia also criticised the investigations by Denmark and Sweden, saying the "only conclusion that was drawn following 18 months of work was that the Nord Stream pipelines were deliberately destroyed using explosive devices."
He also accused the US of blocking actions by the Council to insist on speed and transparency of the Berlin investigation, under the guise of not exerting 'pressure'.
In August, the German press claimed prosecutors had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor, known as 'Volodymyr Z', who was allegedly part of a team planting the explosives - and had issued a warrant for his arrest in Poland. However, Warsaw stated that he had left the country, and claimed Berlin had failed to add his name to the 'wanted' list.
"We see suspicions cropping up, suspicions about what was done or wasn't done by the authorities in the US, Norway, the UK, Germany, but also Poland, Poland where supposedly no only helped one of the suspects to hide," Nebenzia continued.
"Colleagues, if you think that through your obstructionism, you will discourage us, that you will dent our determination to determine who was responsible for the explosion and punish them, then you are mistaken," he added.
Meanwhile the US representative, Acting Political Coordinator Andrew Curiel said there was 'no shred of evidence' of Washington's involvement and accused Moscow of trying to distract attention from the conflict with Kiev, while the UK similarly called on Russia to "translate its stated concern for the protection of civilian infrastructure into action by immediately ceasing such attacks" inside Ukraine.
Later, Chinese representative Geng Shuang questioned the absence of a full international investigation into the blasts and urged members to back Russia’s proposed presidential statement characterising the incident as a deliberate act of terrorism.
“Is there something else going on? For the past two years or so, whether evidence has been covered up and destroyed and the trust and time we put in, when will the truth of the matter be revealed?” Geng said.
“We believe that the current draft includes an objective presentation of facts, reflecting the concerns of all parties. We hope that the parties will intensify their consultation and agree on the draft as soon as possible and send a clear signal to the outside world,” he added.
Russia has repeatedly denied hitting civilian targets during that conflict. Meanwhile, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang questioned whether "evidence [has] been covered up and destroyed over the past two years or so".
"When will the trust and time we have given be rewarded with the truth about what happened?" he asked.
Over the past two years, US media reports have suggested Washington had intelligence suggesting a 'pro-Ukrainian group' was behind the explosions, and even claimed that the US had prior knowledge of a planned attack, up to three months before the blasts took place.
The White House itself was also implicated, following an article by journalist Seymour Hersh who alleged that explosives were planted on Joe Biden’s orders - which the administration called 'utterly false and total fiction'.