German prosecutors have charged a Ukrainian man with war crimes for his alleged role in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. The man, identified as Serhii K. or Serhii Kuznietsov, is accused of planting explosives on the pipelines under the Baltic Sea. Divers allegedly attached these explosives to the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which connect Russia to Germany. The blasts destroyed three of the four pipeline segments.
Investigators believe the suspect was not acting alone but was ordered by Ukrainian government officials. The goal was to cut off Russia's energy revenue, which could fund its military operations. The suspect, who has a military background, was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and transferred to Germany. He denies any involvement.
German authorities claim to have evidence, including explosive residue found on a yacht named Andromeda and phone conversations. They believe about seven people were involved in the mission, using fake documents and passports. One participant has reportedly died fighting in Ukraine.
This indictment creates a difficult situation for Germany, a major supporter of Ukraine. Ukraine has denied any involvement in the pipeline attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine has not yet received enough details to fully respond to the charges. Other countries, like Sweden and Norway, had previously closed their investigations into the incident without finding those responsible. The case will now proceed in a Hamburg court.