Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian citizen accused of coordinating the undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. The arrest was confirmed by Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office on Thursday.
The suspect, identified as Serhii K under German privacy laws, was detained overnight in Misano Adriatico, near Rimini on Italy’s Adriatic coast. He was arrested on the basis of a European warrant issued earlier this week and will be extradited to Germany to appear before a judge.
Prosecutors said Serhii K belonged to a group that planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. They believe he acted as one of the coordinators of the sabotage. He is accused of causing explosions, committing anti-constitutional sabotage, and destroying structures.
Investigators said the group used a sailing yacht to carry out the mission. The vessel was rented from a German company using forged identity documents and intermediaries.
The yacht set off from the port of Rostock on Germany’s northeastern coast. During the voyage, members of the crew reportedly dived into the Baltic Sea to attach explosives to the pipelines.
Traces of undersea explosives were later found on the yacht when investigators searched it as part of the probe.
German media previously reported that the sabotage team consisted of six people, including two divers, two assistants, a captain, and a medic. In August 2024, German authorities had also issued an international arrest warrant for another Ukrainian man suspected of being directly involved in the explosions.
The explosions on September 26, 2022, ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which had been Russia’s main gas supply route to Germany until Moscow cut deliveries at the end of August that year.
Nord Stream 2, which was completed but never entered service after Germany suspended its certification process following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was also damaged.
At the time of the blasts, neither pipeline was actively transporting gas to Europe, but both still contained gas under pressure, leading to massive leaks. A huge amount of methane spilled into the Baltic Sea, which experts say is the largest human-caused release ever. Local wildlife was also affected.
Russia accused the United States of staging the explosions, an allegation Washington denied. The pipelines had long been criticised by the U.S. and some allies, who argued they increased Europe’s dependence on Russian energy supplies.
In 2023, German media reported that a pro-Ukrainian group was believed to have carried out the attack. Ukraine denied having any role, and German officials at the time urged caution about assigning blame.
Denmark and Sweden also launched investigations into the Nord Stream sabotage but both countries closed their inquiries in 2024 without charging anyone. Germany is now the only country still pursuing the case.
Germany’s Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig welcomed the arrest, describing it as an “impressive investigative success.” She said it was important that the sabotage be fully clarified under criminal law.
References: CNN, Aljazeera
?
