Aide to the President of Russia and head of the Maritime Collegium Nikolai Patrushev spoke about the situation with Nord Stream.
He has no doubt that this operation was prepared and carried out by Western intelligence services.
Patrushev emphasized that the Ukrainian Navy does not have the equipment or specialists to carry out sabotage at such a depth, Kommersant reports.
But NATO special forces have both the resources and the necessary personnel, the official noted.
Moreover, the US and UK are the main beneficiaries.
The destruction of Nord Stream is one of a number of methods for the West to advance its economic interests, Patrushev emphasized.
He also added that more such sabotage should be expected.
The Russian presidential aide pointed out that infrastructure facilities could be hit. He cited as an example the marine fiber-optic cables that provide communications throughout the world.
The Kremlin spokesman added that such operations are a tool for the West to create chaos in the energy market.
He believes that Moscow's opponents have taken this path because the hegemony of Washington and its partners "has become unstable."
