Ukrainian Arrested in Italy Linked to Nord Stream Pipeline Explosions

German prosecutors have apprehended a Ukrainian man, Serhii K, in Italy, tying him to the explosive sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, crucial for European gas supply.

German prosecutors have arrested a Ukrainian man, referred to as Serhii K, in Italy, under suspicion of orchestrating the blasts that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea. The arrest was made in Rimini, several months after the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The suspect is believed to have played a significant role in the operation, which involved chartering a yacht and departing from Germany’s Rostock port to plant explosives on both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. While the Ukrainian government has denied any involvement in the attacks, the explosions critically impacted Europe’s gas supply at a time of heightened tension due to the war.

Nord Stream 2 had been slated for operation but was shelved by Germany shortly before the invasion. In contrast, Nord Stream 1 was supplying gas until Russia halted flow, coinciding with the explosions that occurred on September 26, 2022, near the Danish island of Bornholm, where three out of four pipelines were ruptured.

The identity of the culprits behind this sabotage remained elusive, with some reports last year suggesting involvement from a team of Ukrainian divers. A German arrest warrant was previously issued for a diver named Volodymyr Z, indicating ongoing investigations into the matter.

The prosecutors are set to present Serhii K before a judge upon his extradition from Italy. They state he is “strongly suspected” of causing sabotage against the Constitution. Despite these developments, there is currently no evidence linking the attacks directly to Ukraine, Russia, or any other state as investigations continue.