WSJ Journalist Publishes Book on Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage

Bojan Pancevski of The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) published the book The Nord Stream Conspiracy: The Inside Story of the Explosions That Shook the World on Tuesday, prompting mainstream media coverage.

The Author: Pancevski is from North Macedonia and is the chief European political correspondent for The Journal. The majority of his recent reporting has focused on Russia and Germany. He has published exclusive reporting on the Nord Stream pipeline since it was sabotaged in September 2022. In August 2024, Pancevski published what he and The Journal called "the real story" behind the blast. In the report, he alleged it was a six-member crew backed by "a handful of senior Ukrainian military officers and businessmen" posing to be on a "pleasure cruise."

For Context: The Nord Stream pipeline was set to supply Germany with gas from Russia. During both Trump's first term and the Biden administration, the US has stated opposition to it. In 2019, President Trump sanctioned the pipeline. When it was bombed in 2022, President Biden said the bombing was a "deliberate act of sabotage" and accused Russia of "pumping out disinformation and lies." Ukraine said it was "a terrorist attack planned by Russia." Russia called it "an act of terrorism" that was unlikely to happen "without the involvement of a state of some kind." The book release was not widely covered, though several major mainstream outlets covered it.

NYT Book Review: Robert F. Worth of The Atlantic (Left) wrote a review for The New York Times (Lean Left) in which he said, "There is now little doubt about who [bombed Nord Stream], though conspiracy theories still bubble on the margins." Worth praised the book but said his "only real complaint" is "it is written in what might be called blockbuster prose." He added, "I occasionally got the sense that the author was pitching his story a little too eagerly in the direction of Hollywood."

'Conspiracy Theories': Ben Smith of Semafor (Lean Left) published an opinion in which he criticized American media, "bolstered by official statements from unnamed officials," for initially blaming Russia in 2022. He described both American mainstream media and those "imagining a vast secret US operation," including American journalist Seymour Hersh, as "fools." He added, "The CIA and other Western intelligence agencies knew about the Ukrainian plot and actively or passively misled the press and the public."

'Erotic' Woman: The Journal and The Times of London (Center) both published pieces from Pocevski himself promoting the book, headlined by the alleged involvement of a Ukrainian woman who was formerly an "erotic" model. Pocevski also told this to the German paper BILD during a podcast in April. He has kept her real identity concealed and referred to her only as "Freya."

Just Another Theory: Back in April, Javier Villamor of The European Conservative (Lean Right) said "official responsibility" for the bombing remains "unresolved" and that the "vacuum is now being filled by new narratives," most recently including Pancevski's book. He noted that there is "no official confirmation" for Pocevski's reporting by any governments or intelligence agencies and mentioned other narratives. Villamor mentioned journalistic investigations by Germans Oliver Schröm and Ulrich Thiele, who suggested a group of Ukrainians with Western support was responsible and that the German investigation is still ongoing. He added that Sweden and Denmark have both closed their investigations without "definitive public conclusions" and that Moscow has accused Western governments. Villamor concluded, "It is within that grey area that the story of 'Freya' fits. Not as a proven fact, but as a symptom of a broader dispute: the battle over the narrative."

Ongoing Investigation: In August 2025, Germany issued arrest warrants for six Ukrainians wanted in connection with the bombing. In September 2024, Germany accused Poland of sabotaging its investigation into the matter, and in October 2025, Poland denied the extradition of a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany. In November 2025, Italy extradited a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany for his alleged involvement.

Past Reporting: In February 2023, Seymour Hersh reported that the US Navy blew up the pipeline with the help of Norway. In June 2023, The Washington Post (Lean Left) reported that the CIA knew in June 2022 of a Ukrainian plot to bomb the pipeline. In November 2023, The Post and German outlet Der Spiegel accused an already-imprisoned Ukrainian colonel of coordinating the attacks. In October 2024, a Danish harbormaster told the newspaper Politiken that US warships were operating in the area with their transponders turned off days before the sabotage and ordered local officials to stay clear.

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