Germany

Ukrainian National Charged in Germany Over Nord Stream Attacks

Did Ukraine sabotage the Nord Stream pipeline or is it too early to draw conclusions?

Published JUL 2

Ukrainian National Charged in Germany Over Nord Stream Attacks

Story

Above: Serhii Kuznetsov, suspected of being involved in the Nord Stream attacks, is led to a helicopter ahead of a court hearing in Germany on Nov. 28, 2025. Image credit: Uli Deck/picture alliance/Getty Images

The Facts

A Ukrainian national — identified only as Serhii K per German privacy laws — was charged with being an accomplice to a war crime, disruption of public services, causing an explosion and destroying structures in connection with the 2022 attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, German prosecutors told Reuters on Thursday.
Reuters
US News & World Report
Initial reports a day earlier in German media said the man was indicted but did not specify the charges against him.
BBC News
EuroNews
The individual — previously identified as Serhii Kuznetsov in media reports — was detained in Rimini, Italy under a European arrest warrant last August before being extradited to Germany the following November. He has since been detained in Hamburg and has denied his involvement in the attacks.
The New Voice of Ukraine
RBC
BBC News
The Kyiv Independent
According to the latest reporting, he's accused of leading a team of divers and an explosives expert that entered Germany and rented a yacht using forged documents, before laying explosives on the undersea cables in international waters near the Danish island ⁠of Bornholm.
Reuters
MarineLink
However, according to reporting from German publication Der Spiegel in 2023, the operation was masterminded by Roman Chervinsky, a former member of Ukrainian foreign and military intelligence. Earlier this year, the publication went on to report that Chervinsky had ties to the CIA dating back to 2014 and that the agency had foreknowledge of the attacks. The CIA denied the allegation.
DER SPIEGEL
Business Insider
DER SPIEGEL
Archive
Meanwhile, another Ukrainian national identified as Volodymyr Zhuravlov was arrested in Poland in connection with the blasts, but Poland has so far refused to grant his extradition.
Ukrainska Pravda
The New Voice of Ukraine

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

While Ukraine has denied involvement and state backing has yet to be proven, should involvement be demonstrated, it would severely complicate Ukraine's relationship with Germany, as the country has been one of the biggest supporters of its military.

BBC News

Pro-Ukraine narrative

It's too early for Ukraine to comment on this case as it has not had sight of all of the relevant details. Once they have been seen, Ukraine will provide an update via the appropriate channels.

Ukrainska Pravda