Ukrainian man wanted for Nord Stream sabotage cleared for extradition by Italy
A Ukrainian suspected of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines will be extradited to Germany (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
On Wednesday, November 19, the Italian Supreme Court approved the extradition to Germany of a Ukrainian suspected of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines between Russia and Germany, according to AP News.
The lawyer of 49-year-old Ukrainian Serhii Kuznietsov stated that his client will be handed over to Germany in the coming days. The decision came after the Court of Cassation rejected the defense’s final appeal.
At the same time, the lawyer expressed confidence that his client will be acquitted in court.
Kuznietsov denies any involvement in the pipeline explosions and claims that he was in Ukraine at the time of the blasts.
Nord Stream pipeline sabotage
In September 2022, the explosions caused the depressurization of two Nord Stream pipeline lines and one Nord Stream 2 line near the Danish island of Bornholm, resulting in the release of approximately 800 million cubic meters of gas.
In August 2025, the German prosecution announced the arrest of Ukrainian citizen Serhii Kuznietsov in Italy on suspicion of organizing the pipeline sabotage. Since August 21, he had been imprisoned in the resort town of Riccione. On September 16, an Italian court approved his extradition to Germany.
Kuznietsov’s defense appealed the decision, but at the end of October, the Bologna Court of Appeals upheld the extradition order.
Notably, Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that Serhii Kuznietsov has declared a hunger strike.
Additionally, on September 30, Polish authorities detained Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zh. on suspicion of involvement in the Nord Stream explosions, based on an arrest warrant issued by German intelligence.
In October, a Polish court denied the extradition request and ordered the immediate release of the suspect.
