A Ukrainian man was arrested in Croatia in connection with the September 2022 bombings that damaged three of four Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. German prosecutors allege a trained scuba diver was involved and have identified the suspect as Vladimir Z. Another Ukrainian officer, Serhiy Kuznetsov, was arrested in Italy, extradited to Germany and is now awaiting trial. Ukrainian officials deny Kyiv's involvement, while the incident continues to inflame regional tensions over energy security.
Ukrainian Man Arrested in Croatia Over 2022 Nord Stream Sabotage; Prosecutors Name Vladimir Z.
View taken from a Danish F-16 interceptor of the Nord Stream 2 gas leak just south of Dueodde, Denmark, on September 27, 2022. The leak was one of three on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. File Photo courtesy of Danish Defense
Aug. 19 (UPI) — A Ukrainian man was arrested in Croatia on Wednesday in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a major export route for Russian natural gas, authorities said.
Three of the four pipelines that run through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany were blown up in September 2022, months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. German prosecutors allege a trained scuba diver was involved in the explosions and have sought the suspect's extradition to Germany.
Prosecutors say the man detained in Croatia was part of a group separately prosecuted over planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 lines. Authorities noted that Nord Stream 2 was not in operation at the time of the incident.
"The accused participated in the necessary dives," the prosecutor's office said.
Officials identified the suspect only as Vladimir Z.
Separately, Ukrainian military officer Serhiy Kuznetsov was arrested in Italy last year over an alleged role in the destruction of the pipelines. Kuznetsov has since been extradited to Germany and is awaiting trial; prosecutors accuse him of leading a team that planted explosives near the Danish island of Bornholm.
Ukrainian authorities deny that Kyiv had any role in the blasts. The attacks remain the subject of ongoing international investigations and multiple legal proceedings.
Regional Context
The construction and use of the Nord Stream pipelines has been a long-standing point of contention in European politics, particularly between Germany and Poland, which opposed the projects. Polish officials have argued that an attack on the pipelines by Ukraine could be viewed by some as a response to Russia's invasion — a position that underscores broader diplomatic tensions around energy security in Europe.
Investigations and extradition requests continue as authorities in several countries pursue leads and prepare cases related to the 2022 sabotage.
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