Nord Stream Sabotage Still Splits Europe: Trials, Politics and Energy Lessons

Blast Echoes: How the Nord Stream Attacks Continue to Fracture Europe

On a late September night in 2022, muffled detonations and a trail of bubbles rose through the Baltic Sea after explosions ripped open the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines—Russia’s major gas artery to Europe—months after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. More than two years later, the political and legal fallout from that sabotage continues to shape European relations and debates about energy security.

Ongoing Investigations and Legal Moves

Germany has pursued a criminal case and issued arrest warrants for two Ukrainian nationals: Volodymyr Zhuravlov, detained in Poland, and Serhii Kuznietsov, arrested in Italy. German prosecutors say Zhuravlov was a "trained diver" who took part in placing explosives near the Danish island of Bornholm, and that the suspects used false identities to rent a yacht and transport equipment to the site. Kuznietsov, a former Ukrainian soldier, is accused of coordinating the operation; he denies wrongdoing and is appealing an extradition decision.

In mid-October a Polish court freed Zhuravlov and halted his extradition to Germany, reasoning that if the blasts were an act of Ukrainian sabotage in response to invasion, accountability would lie with Ukraine. Judge Dariusz Lubowski said, "If Ukraine was indeed the organizer of this act of aggression, then only Ukraine can be held responsible for this event," according to Polish broadcaster TVN24.

Political Reactions Across Europe

Responses across Europe have been sharply divided. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk argued it is "not in the interest of Poland" to extradite the detained Ukrainian and framed the wider debate as focused on whether the pipelines should ever have been built. Hungary’s foreign minister called Polish support for the suspect "shocking," and warned against leaders defending what he termed "terrorists."

"We don’t want a Europe where prime ministers defend terrorists," wrote Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on X.

Voices from the Baltic and other Eastern European states urged caution about how the legal pursuit might overshadow the bigger story: why Europe became dependent on Russian gas in the first place. Lithuania’s former foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned that a narrow legal focus risks obscuring the strategic mistakes that led to reliance on Moscow for energy.

Historical Context and Energy Dependence

Concerns about Nord Stream predate 2022. Critics argued the pipelines deepened European dependence on Russian hydrocarbons and increased vulnerability to political pressure from Moscow. Germany was a principal backer of the projects and also a major beneficiary: in 2016 nearly 30% of German gas demand was supplied by Russia through Nord Stream 1, according to German government data.

Some prominent German politicians later drew criticism for close ties with Russian energy firms. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder sought positions in Russian companies after leaving office, and former Chancellor Angela Merkel has faced scrutiny for a conciliatory approach to Moscow. In her memoir Merkel described Nord Stream 2 as "a relic of a failed investment," noting that no gas had ever flowed through it.

Implications for European Unity and Security

Analysts warn that the unresolved questions about who carried out the sabotage—and how governments respond—could further strain alliances already under pressure from the war in Ukraine and uneven support from external partners. Stefan Meister of the German Council on Foreign Relations argued that allowing courts to proceed is important for the credibility of German institutions, especially in the face of domestic political attacks.

At the same time, Europe's energy landscape has changed dramatically since 2022. The EU’s reliance on Russian pipeline gas fell from over 40% in 2021 to roughly 11% by 2024, reflecting a concerted effort to diversify supplies and accelerate the energy transition.

"The right place for Nord Stream 2 is at the bottom of the sea, in pieces," Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in March, encapsulating the hardened view in parts of Europe.

Conclusion

Whether Germany succeeds in prosecuting those it accuses, the Nord Stream attacks have already reshaped European politics and energy policy. The episode exposed old debates about dependence on Russian energy, prompted legal and diplomatic clashes between allies, and accelerated efforts to reduce Russian gas imports. As the investigations continue, the incident remains a reminder of how energy infrastructure, geopolitics and the rule of law intersect in ways that can deepen divisions as well as drive reform.

Sources: reporting by CNN and Polish broadcaster TVN24; EU and German government energy statistics; public statements by European officials.