Key facts
- A Ukrainian national, Vladimir Z. (also known as Volodymyr Zhuravlyov), was arrested in Pula, Croatia.
- German prosecutors allege Vladimir Z. is a trained diver who participated in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline bombings.
- He is the second suspect arrested in connection with the bombings, following Serhiy K.
- The Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines were damaged by explosives in September 2022.
- Germany will seek Vladimir Z.'s extradition to face trial.
A Ukrainian man, identified by German prosecutors as Vladimir Z. and by Polish authorities as Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, was arrested in Croatia on Wednesday on a European warrant. German prosecutors suspect him of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, alleging he is a trained diver who helped plant explosives on the undersea gas pipelines.
This arrest marks the second suspect apprehended in connection with the sabotage. German federal prosecutors had previously charged Serhii K., a former Ukrainian army officer, in August 2025, who was later extradited to Germany. The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which carried Russian natural gas to Germany, were damaged by explosions on September 26, 2022, amid heightened tensions due to the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Z. had previously been arrested in Poland in 2025 but was released when a Polish court refused his extradition to Germany. His Polish lawyer stated that the ruling only applied within Poland, and his wife expressed surprise at his detention in Croatia. The German government welcomed the arrest, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the pipeline bombings. Germany intends to seek Vladimir Z.'s extradition to face trial.