German authorities have announced the arrest in Italy of a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines running from Russia to Germany. The man, identified only as Serhiy K, is believed to have been aboard the sailing yacht from which the attack was allegedly carried out.
According to Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office (GBA), Italian police arrested him near Rimini on Wednesday evening following a European arrest warrant issued on Monday. The attacks, which took place on September 26, 2022, severely damaged the pipelines—which were not in use at the time—and are thought to have rendered them irreparable.
Investigators have long suspected a Ukrainian commando operation. They believe divers were transported to the site near the Danish island of Bornholm by the chartered yacht Andromeda, which sailed from the German port of Rostock. The divers allegedly planted explosives on the seabed. Serhiy K is thought to have been on board, not as a diver but in a coordinating role for what appears to have been a carefully planned operation.
Prosecutors say the yacht was rented using fake identity documents and intermediaries from a German company. The GBA has been investigating the incident since 2022 and intends to charge suspects with anti-constitutional sabotage and causing an explosion.
Media investigations, particularly by Der Spiegel, cited sources with alleged inside knowledge who claimed the commandos did not view their actions as criminal. Instead, they reportedly considered it a strike against a legitimate military target, arguing that revenue from gas sales to Germany helped fund Russia’s war in Ukraine. Spiegel also reported evidence suggesting Ukrainian military involvement, though Kyiv has denied this.
German prosecutors have not indicated when Serhiy K might be extradited. Separate investigations by Swedish and Danish authorities were closed in February 2024, leaving Germany to continue its inquiry alone.
Russia initially accused the U.S. of the sabotage, pointing to Washington’s criticism of Germany’s reliance on Russian gas. Early suspicions also fell on Russia, but investigators eventually traced the yacht to Ukraine. Both Washington and Moscow have denied involvement.
Last year, Germany’s federal prosecutor general, Jens Rommel, obtained an arrest warrant for one of the suspected divers. However, the suspect reportedly left Poland before he could be apprehended after Polish authorities allegedly tipped off Ukraine. According to Spiegel, the individual is believed to have crossed into Ukraine in a car with diplomatic plates.
In a separate development on Thursday, the Georgian captain of an oil tanker that damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in 2024 denied any wrongdoing, calling the incident a “maritime accident.” Davit Vadatchkoria and two officers of the Eagle S oil tanker are due to face charges in a Helsinki court on Monday for slicing power and telecommunications cables while their vessel traveled through the Gulf of Finland after departing from a Russian oil port. They maintain their innocence.”It’s just a maritime accident,” Vadatchkoria, who is currently detained in Finland, told the Finnish public broadcaster YLE on Thursday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the arrest of a Ukrainian man in connection with the Nord Stream pipeline explosions designed to be clear and helpful
General Factual Questions
Q Who was arrested in connection with the Nord Stream pipeline explosions
A Italian police acting on a request from German authorities arrested a man identified as a Ukrainian national
Q What exactly is he accused of doing
A He is suspected of being part of a sixperson crew that used a yacht to carry out the underwater bombings of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022
Q Where was he arrested
A He was arrested on the Italian island of Ischia near Naples
Q Is this the first arrest in this case
A No he is the second suspect to be detained Another man was arrested in Germany in 2023 on similar suspicions
Motivations Background
Q Why would someone blow up the Nord Stream pipelines
A The pipelines were a major source of natural gas from Russia to Germany The bombings are widely seen as a deliberate act of sabotage likely with a political or economic motive to disrupt energy supplies especially during the war in Ukraine
Q Who is believed to be behind the attack
A This is the central unanswered question Various theories have pointed fingers at Russia Ukraine the United States or a proUkrainian group acting independently No government has officially claimed responsibility and investigations are ongoing
Q Does this arrest point to Ukraines government being responsible
A Not necessarily Italian and German investigators have been careful to state that the suspects appear to be individuals and there is currently no evidence linking their actions directly to the Ukrainian government
Legal Procedural Questions
Q What will happen to the suspect now
A He was arrested on a European arrest warrant issued by Germany Italy will now begin extradition proceedings to send him to Germany to face formal charges and trial
Q What charges could he face
A The charges would be very serious likely including aggravated explosion destruction of property and membership in a terrorist organization under German law
Q How did investigators connect him to the attack
A While the full evidence isnt public its believed to include passport details phone records payments for the
