A Ukrainian man accused of involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions has been detained in Pruszkow, Poland.
Arrest of Wołodymyr Z.
On Tuesday, September 30, RMF FM reported that Wołodymyr Z. was arrested in Pruszkow, Mazowieckie province. He is suspected of participating in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Germany has issued a European Arrest Warrant for him. “He will now be transferred to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw, and extradition proceedings will soon begin,” the report states. The suspect’s lawyer claimed there is no basis for handing him over to German authorities, stating they are awaiting official procedural steps and formal charges from Germany.
The Nord Stream sabotage investigation
In September 2022, diving instructor Wołodymyr Z. allegedly sailed from Rostock to the Baltic Sea and planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. In August, ARD, “Süddeutsche Zeitung,” and “Die Zeit” reported that German authorities had identified all seven individuals involved in the case. Six Ukrainian citizens have been issued arrest warrants in connection with the explosions.
Arrest of Serhij K. in Italy
Serhij K. was also arrested in Italy under a European Arrest Warrant requested by German prosecutors. In September, the Court of Appeal in Bologna ruled that he could be extradited to Germany. His lawyer plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Serhij K. was detained on August 21 after arriving in Italy from Poland. German prosecutors claim he led a group of Ukrainians who sabotaged the Nord Stream 2 pipelines from a yacht rented in Rostock. His defense argues that the sabotage occurred during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, making his arrest and potential extradition unlawful. Additionally, they have requested an assessment of conditions in German prisons, citing potential life-threatening risks for their client. If extradited, Serhij K. will face trial before the Federal Court of Justice, with a possible sentence of 15 years in prison.
