Key facts
- German federal prosecutors have filed charges against a Ukrainian national.
- The suspect, identified as Serhii K., was arrested in Italy.
- The charges relate to the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions.
- Authorities believe the suspect was involved in coordinating the attack.
- The Nord Stream pipelines were damaged by underwater explosions in September 2022.
German federal prosecutors have filed charges against a Ukrainian national in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, according to German media reports. The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. in line with German privacy laws, was arrested in Italy's Rimini province. Prosecutors stated that he is believed to be one of the coordinators of the operation and was involved in planting explosives on the pipelines.
The explosions on September 26, 2022, damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which transported Russian gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea. The pipelines were not operational at the time of the attack. The damage occurred amid heightened tensions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and European efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
Germany, Denmark, and Sweden launched investigations into the incidents. German authorities had previously issued an arrest warrant for a suspected ringleader, identified as Volodymyr Z., also a Ukrainian national. The Ukrainian government has denied any involvement in the sabotage.