Key facts
- A Croatian court ruled a Ukrainian man suspected in the Nord Stream pipeline blasts can be extradited to Germany.
- The suspect, identified as Vladimir Z., was arrested in August in Pula, Croatia.
- German prosecutors allege Vladimir Z. was a scuba diver involved in the sabotage.
- Vladimir Z.'s lawyer plans to appeal the ruling, calling it biased and political.
- Another suspect, Serhii K., was charged in July with orchestrating the blasts on behalf of Ukrainian state entities.
- Serhii K. was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and transferred to Germany in November.
A Croatian court has ruled that a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions can be extradited to Germany, according to reports from Ukraine's Suspilne news portal. German prosecutors have identified the man as Vladimir Z. and allege he was a scuba diver who was part of a group responsible for the sabotage.
The Nord Stream pipelines, a key route for Russian gas exports to Europe, were damaged in explosions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The blasts affected both Nord Stream 1 and the previously unused Nord Stream 2.
Vladimir Z.'s lawyer, Mykola Katerynchuk, dismissed the court's ruling, which was made last Friday, as biased and political, stating an appeal would be filed. The County Court in Pula confirmed it had made a ruling but declined to provide details pending potential appeals.
German courts assert jurisdiction over the case due to the pipelines terminating in Germany and the impact on the country's energy security. Vladimir Z. was arrested in August in Pula on a European arrest warrant and has denied any involvement, according to his lawyers.
Another suspect in the case, former Ukrainian army officer Serhii K., was charged in July with orchestrating the blasts on behalf of Ukrainian state entities. He was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and transferred to Germany in November, also denying any involvement.