Ukrainian citizen arrested in Italy over Nord Stream pipeline blasts

The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of a Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

The arrest took place in the province of Rimini (Italy). The operation was carried out by carabinieri from Misano Adriatico in close cooperation with the Interpol and on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued on August 18, 2025, by an investigating judge of the German Federal Court.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the detainee is Serhii K., who is suspected of:

• Jointly committing an explosion (Article 308 of the German Criminal Code),

• Anti-constitutional sabotage (Article 88),

• Destruction of buildings (Article 305).

The investigation believes that Serhii K. was a member of the group that planted explosives on the pipelines near the island of Bornholm. He also allegedly acted as one of the coordinators of the operation.

To transport the explosives, the group used a sailing yacht rented from a German company with forged documents.

After extradition from Italy, the suspect will be brought before an investigating judge of the German Federal Court of Justice.

Nord Stream explosion

The explosions occurred on September 26, 2022, causing severe damage to both pipelines. The investigation was conducted by several countries, unable to establish who exactly was behind the explosions.

The media also reported a version that a few days before the incident, the vessel Andromeda, rented by a Polish company, was in the area of the gas pipeline route. The owners of this company are two Ukrainian citizens.

According to unconfirmed reports, six people may have taken part in the operation. There is no official confirmation of this information.