In a significant development regarding the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year, German authorities have apprehended a Ukrainian man in Italy.
Ukrainian Arrested in Italy Linked to Nord Stream Pipeline Explosions
Ukrainian Arrested in Italy Linked to Nord Stream Pipeline Explosions
A Ukrainian national has been detained in Italy, raising questions about the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage incident that remains under investigation.
The article text:
German prosecutors have announced the arrest of a Ukrainian man, referred to only as Serhii K, in Italy on suspicions of his involvement in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea. The apprehension took place in Rimini as part of an ongoing investigation related to the blasts that occurred in September 2022, which severed crucial natural gas supplies to Europe amidst rising tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Officials allege that Serhii K was part of a group responsible for planting explosives on both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which connect Russia to Germany. According to prosecutors, he is suspected of being one of the masterminds who charted a yacht from the German port of Rostock to execute the operation. The pipelines, which spanned approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), were vital for Europe's energy supply, especially after Germany halted the approval for Nord Stream 2 shortly before the onset of the war.
The September 26 explosions near the Danish island of Bornholm resulted in significant damage, with three of the four pipelines being impacted. While Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement in the sabotage, reports from last year hinted at a team of Ukrainian divers who allegedly hired a German yacht to launch an attack on the pipelines. This has contributed to the ongoing speculation surrounding the identity of the saboteurs.
Consequently, German authorities had previously issued an arrest warrant for a diver named Volodymyr Z in connection with the incident. Following his extradition from Italy, Serhii K is expected to appear before an investigating judge, with prosecutors emphasizing that he is "strongly suspected of jointly causing an explosion and of sabotage undermining the constitution." However, there remains no concrete evidence directly tying any state, including Ukraine or Russia, to the attacks on the pipelines.
German prosecutors have announced the arrest of a Ukrainian man, referred to only as Serhii K, in Italy on suspicions of his involvement in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea. The apprehension took place in Rimini as part of an ongoing investigation related to the blasts that occurred in September 2022, which severed crucial natural gas supplies to Europe amidst rising tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Officials allege that Serhii K was part of a group responsible for planting explosives on both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which connect Russia to Germany. According to prosecutors, he is suspected of being one of the masterminds who charted a yacht from the German port of Rostock to execute the operation. The pipelines, which spanned approximately 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), were vital for Europe's energy supply, especially after Germany halted the approval for Nord Stream 2 shortly before the onset of the war.
The September 26 explosions near the Danish island of Bornholm resulted in significant damage, with three of the four pipelines being impacted. While Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement in the sabotage, reports from last year hinted at a team of Ukrainian divers who allegedly hired a German yacht to launch an attack on the pipelines. This has contributed to the ongoing speculation surrounding the identity of the saboteurs.
Consequently, German authorities had previously issued an arrest warrant for a diver named Volodymyr Z in connection with the incident. Following his extradition from Italy, Serhii K is expected to appear before an investigating judge, with prosecutors emphasizing that he is "strongly suspected of jointly causing an explosion and of sabotage undermining the constitution." However, there remains no concrete evidence directly tying any state, including Ukraine or Russia, to the attacks on the pipelines.
