The German Federal Prosecutor's Office stated that the suspect, Serhii K., a Ukrainian citizen, was arrested early this morning in the Italian province of Rimini. He is accused of being part of a Ukrainian group that "planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines".
Serhii K. and his accomplices allegedly sailed a yacht from Rostock, a port city in northeastern Germany, to carry out the sabotage. The group reportedly used fake documents to rent the vessel from a German company. Serhii K. will be extradited to Germany to stand trial.
Italian police have not yet commented on the report.
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Bubbles rise from a leak on Nord Stream 2 near Denmark in 9/2022. Photo: AFP. |
Bubbles rise from a leak on Nord Stream 2 near Denmark in 9/2022. Photo: AFP.
Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were built under the Baltic Sea to transport Russian natural gas to Germany and Western Europe. Both pipelines were severely damaged by explosions in 9/2022. At the time, neither pipeline was operational.
Denmark, Sweden, and Germany, the three countries closest to the explosions, launched investigations. In 7/2023, German authorities discovered a yacht with traces of explosives, suspected to be linked to the incident.
US media reported in 8/2024 that the plan to bomb the pipeline was hatched during a meeting in a pub between Ukrainian officers and businessmen in 5/2022.
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Location of leaks following the explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in 9/2022. Graphic: Guardian |
Location of leaks following the explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in 9/2022. Graphic: Guardian
According to the German police investigation, the attack was carried out by six people: five men and one woman, all from Ukraine. Four of them were experienced divers. They used a powerful explosive known as HMX, connecting it to detonators controlled by timers and attaching them to the pipeline.
Ukraine has declared the accusations of its involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage as "completely absurd".
Nhu Tam (Reuters, AFP)
