Ukrainian Man Arrested in Croatia for Nord Stream Pipeline Explosions
A Ukrainian man was apprehended in Croatia on Wednesday in connection with the undersea blasts that caused damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany in 2022, as stated by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
Identified as Vladimir Z., the individual was taken into custody in Pula, Croatia, following an arrest warrant issued by European authorities. Prosecutors revealed that Vladimir Z., a proficient scuba diver, was part of a group responsible for planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. The suspect is suspected of collaborating in causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of infrastructure.
The German government expressed satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the significance of resolving the pipeline bombings. Justice ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer commended the progress made by the federal prosecutor’s office in the investigations.
Recent charges were filed against another suspect, Serhii K., a former Ukrainian army officer, linked to the same explosions. Serhii K. was detained in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany in November on charges including explosion-related offenses, property damage, disruption of public services, and complicity in war crimes by targeting civilian structures.
Germany is working on extraditing Serhii K. after Poland rejected a similar extradition request last year for a person bearing the same name and initials. The individual was identified by Polish authorities as Volodymyr Zhuravlov.
Poland’s opposition to the Nord Stream pipelines, which it perceives as Russia’s attempt to leverage its energy resources in Europe, has been a longstanding issue. The government’s decision not to extradite Volodymyr Zhuravlov in the past was in line with this stance.
The explosions that occurred on September 26, 2022, heightened tensions amid the Ukraine conflict, prompting European nations to reduce their reliance on Russian energy sources following the invasion. The blasts damaged the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, previously a major Russian natural gas conduit to Germany, and affected Nord Stream 2, which had not yet commenced operations due to certification suspension.
Accusations from Russia alleging U.S. involvement in orchestrating the explosions have been denied by Washington. Additionally, Ukraine has refuted any involvement in the sabotage incident.