Patrushev Is Not "Hinting" ...

 ... he says it directly. 

«Однозначно речь идет о диверсионном акте, выполненном на весьма профессиональном уровне. Уничтожение участка подводного трубопровода — сама по себе достаточно сложная задача, особенно если требуется максимально незаметная работа без привлечения специально оборудованного судна. В случае ''Северных потоков'', очевидно, эту задачу решала высококлассная команда диверсантов, обладающих большим опытом работы на значительных глубинах и в непростых гидрологических условиях Балтийского моря»,— убежден он. По словам Николая Патрушева, «далеко не каждая армия или спецслужба в мире имеет в своем составе пловцов, способных грамотно и, самое главное, скрытно реализовать подобную акцию». «Одна из спецслужб, способная выполнить эту задачу,— знаменитая британская Специальная лодочная служба. Это одно из старейших военно-морских диверсионных подразделений, которое заявило о себе во время Второй мировой войны,— отмечает Николай Патрушев.— Кстати, сейчас предпочитают не вспоминать, что буквально накануне подрыва «Северного потока» в этом районе Балтики проводились учения ВМС НАТО».

Translation: "We are clearly talking about an act of sabotage carried out at a very professional level. Destroying a section of an underwater pipeline is a difficult task in itself, especially if it requires the most undetectable work without the use of a specially equipped vessel. In the case of Nord Stream, this task was obviously carried out by a highly qualified team of saboteurs with extensive experience of working at significant depths and in the difficult hydrological conditions of the Baltic Sea," he is convinced. According to Nikolai Patrushev, "not every army or special service in the world has swimmers in its ranks who are capable of competently and, most importantly, covertly carrying out such an action." "One of the special services capable of carrying out this task is the famous British Special Boat Service. This is one of the oldest naval sabotage units, which made a name for itself during the Second World War, notes Nikolai Patrushev. By the way, now they prefer not to remember that literally on the eve of the explosion of the Nord Stream, NATO naval exercises were conducted in this area of ​​the Baltic.”

He correctly states that German "version" of sabotage is "ridiculous", which it is, but then again--anything coming out of West's establishment media is ridiculous by default and is nothing more than propaganda. Such as this piece of dung from WSJ:

It is one of the daily reminders that US establishment has NO serious experts in Russia, warfare and economics. You cannot fix it--the system itself is utterly corrupted and non-functional. Per dynamics of SMO--yet another "volunteer" has been kidnapped from the streets of 404 and now will be disposed of at the line of combat contact.

In related news which are not news but repetition of the same shit over and over again:

President Donald Trump said he was ready to sanction Russia after Moscow launched its largest air attack against Ukraine since the start of the war on Sunday, setting Kyiv’s government headquarters on fire and killing at least five, including one infant. Forty-four more were injured in the attack that the Ukrainian Defense Department said included over 800 Shahed-type strike drones; 9 Iskander-K cruise missiles; and 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, which hit residential apartments and set ablaze the building where the Cabinet of Ministers convenes.

The destruction (rather minor, all things considered) and fire have been caused highly likely by SAM of whatever is left in terms of Patriots or whatever else in Kiev--the only place which has some pathetic remnants of missile AD in 404. 

Yes, as you might expect--infants are a normal presence in Council of Ministers building everywhere. So, sanctions, yes--Russia is quaking in her boots. But Kiev does look somewhat ... smoky today. 

The SMO continues.