German prosecutors investigate Ukrainian involvement in Nord Stream pipeline sabotage

On July 2, German federal prosecutors announced that they have accused a Ukrainian national, identified as Serhii K., of orchestrating the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. According to authorities, the suspect, a professional diver and explosives expert, allegedly acted on behalf of Ukrainian officials to disrupt gas supplies and prevent Russia from funding its war efforts. The operation involved renting a yacht with fake identification and transporting military-grade explosives to a location near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. Serhii K. was arrested in Rimini, Italy, in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany in November 2025. Prosecutors have charged him with complicity in war crimes, damaging public services, and unauthorized use of explosives. While the German investigation points to a state-sanctioned Ukrainian plot, the suspect denies all involvement in the incident. His lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, has publicly stated his confidence that his client will be acquitted during the upcoming trial. The sabotage remains a critical point of tension in relations between Russia and the West.