Italian police arrest Ukrainian man over Nord Stream blast
Italian authorities have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of playing a key role in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, which carried natural gas from Russia to Germany.
The suspect, identified as Serhiy K., was detained by the Carabinieri near Rimini on Wednesday, following a European arrest warrant issued earlier this week by Germany’s federal prosecutor. Investigators believe he was aboard the yacht Andromeda, allegedly used to transport divers who planted explosives near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022.
Although officials do not consider him one of the divers, Serhiy K. is suspected of coordinating what has been described as a carefully planned operation. Prosecutors say the vessel was chartered in Germany under false identities and with forged documents.
The blasts, which rendered parts of the pipelines unusable, have been under investigation since 2022. German authorities accuse those involved of “anti-constitutional sabotage” and causing an explosion. Media investigations, including reports by Der Spiegel, suggested the commandos viewed the attack as a strike on a military target, given Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and its reliance on energy exports to finance the conflict.
Kyiv has denied any official involvement, despite allegations that the operation may have been sanctioned by elements of Ukraine’s armed forces. Swedish and Danish investigations into the sabotage were closed in early 2024, leaving German prosecutors to pursue the case alone.
For now, it remains unclear when Serhiy K. will be extradited to Germany to face charges.
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