Arrested Ukrainian 'probably' head of Nord Stream sabotage plot: was Kyiv involved?

Published connected 23/08/2025 - 16:07 GMT+2 •Updated 17:01

According to nan latest findings, nan Ukrainian Serhii K., who was arrested successful Italy, is said to person led nan wide cognition of nan explosives attacks connected nan Nord Stream pipelines and nan sabotage team. This is according to nan apprehension warrant, which was presented to a investigation squad from German nationalist broadcaster ARD, regular Süddeutsche Zeitung and play DIE ZEIT.

The alleged attacker's lawyer denies nan allegations, arsenic reported by Italian media. The Ukrainian national was arrested connected Wednesday evening successful nan state of Rimini, Italy. He was connected vacation location pinch his woman and 2 children successful a vacation home. The 49-year-old is suspected of anti-constitutional sabotage. An world apprehension warrant had been issued for him.

Traces each nan measurement to Ukraine

On 26 September 2022, chartless persons blew up 3 of nan 4 Nord Stream pipelines astatine nan bottommost of nan Baltic Sea pinch bombs. The pipelines were intended to proviso Germany pinch Russian gas. When nan warfare successful Ukraine began, nan task came to a halt.

According to investigations, nan suspected Ukrainian, together pinch 5 different men and a woman, is said to person obtained mendacious passports. They sailed to nan pipelines connected a vessel called "Andromeda", which they had antecedently hired. There, divers planted astatine slightest 4 bombs astatine depths of up to 70 to 80 metres and attached them to nan Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, according to nan apprehension warrant. They were past allegedly picked up by a driver and taken to Ukraine.

Will relations betwixt Germany and Ukraine beryllium put to nan test?

Officials successful nan investigation squad presume that nan suspects are respective civilians, erstwhile but besides progressive subject personnel, making nan lawsuit peculiarly sensitive. The German investigators tracked down a man named arsenic Volodymyr S. past year, 1 of nan suspected divers successful nan Nord Stream case. He had been staying successful Poland. But Volodymyr S. was capable to evade arrest. According to media reports, he fled successful a Ukrainian negotiated conveyance earlier nan Polish constabulary were capable to apprehend him.

The alleged caput of nan sabotage squad was besides recovered to person links to nan Ukrainian concealed service. According to accusation from play newsmagazine Der Spiegel, he is said to person worked for nan Ukrainian concealed work SBU 10 years ago. He is still progressive successful an relation for information work reservists, arsenic DIE ZEIT reports.

The anticipation that nan Ukrainian authorities whitethorn person been progressive cannot truthful beryllium ruled out. This is simply a delicate rumor that could put relations betwixt Germany and Ukraine to nan test. Until now, Germany has been considered 1 of Ukraine's strongest supporters successful nan warfare pinch Russia. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has truthful acold denied Ukraine's engagement successful nan Nord Stream affair.

Serhii K. is to stay successful custody successful Italy until astatine slightest nan opening of September, according to nan Italian authorities. He could past beryllium extradited to Germany. The Ukrainian national intends to take sides himself against a transportation to Germany, according to Italian media reports citing his lawyer. A proceeding connected a imaginable extradition is owed to return spot successful nan mediate of adjacent week. If convicted, Serhii K. is facing up to 15 years successful prison.