Italian police on Wednesday detained a Ukrainian national suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosion. The pipelines, which carried natural gas from Russia to Germany, were severely damaged in the attack. German officials later confirmed the arrest and identified the man only as Serhiy K.
How the Arrest Took Place
Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office (GBA) announced that Carabinieri police arrested the suspect near Rimini on Wednesday evening. The arrest followed a European warrant issued earlier that week. Investigators believe the man was present on the sailing vessel from which the sabotage operation was allegedly launched.
Details of the 2022 Blast
The Nord Stream attack took place on September 26, 2022. Although the pipelines were not in use at the time, the explosions caused permanent damage. From the start, suspicion fell on Ukrainian commandos.
Authorities believe divers were transported on the chartered yacht Andromeda, which sailed from the German port of Rostock to waters near the Danish island of Bornholm. Explosives were then planted on the seabed close to the pipelines.
Suspect’s Alleged Role
Investigators think Serhiy K was aboard the yacht, though not as one of the divers. Instead, he is suspected of having a coordinating or leadership role in what prosecutors described as a carefully organized sabotage mission. The boat had reportedly been rented through intermediaries using fake documents linked to a German company.
The GBA has been investigating the case since 2022. If charged, suspects could face counts of anti-constitutional sabotage and causing an explosion.
Media Investigation and Kyiv’s Denial
An in-depth probe by German outlet Der Spiegel revealed that individuals with inside knowledge described the sabotage as a strike against a legitimate military target, not as a criminal act. Their research also pointed to possible involvement of the Ukrainian armed forces, though Kyiv has consistently denied any connection.
German prosecutors have not disclosed when Serhiy K might be extradited.
Also Read: Zelensky Says Open to Meeting Putin After Security Guarantees Finalized
International Reactions and Parallel Investigations
Other inquiries by Swedish and Danish authorities were closed in February 2024, leaving Germany as the only country still pursuing the case.
Meanwhile, political blame shifted in different directions. At one stage, Russia accused the United States of organizing the sabotage after Washington criticized Germany’s reliance on Russian energy. Initially, some speculated that Russia itself might be responsible, but investigators later traced the yacht and found links to Ukraine.
Eventually, Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington all denied involvement.
Previous Arrest Efforts
In 2024, Germany’s federal prosecutor general Jens Rommel secured an arrest warrant against a diver suspected of taking part in the sabotage. But according to Spiegel, the suspect evaded capture after being warned by Polish authorities. He allegedly crossed into Ukraine in a car carrying diplomatic license plates.
