On Tuesday, September 30, Polish police detained Ukrainian national Wołodymyr Z. in Pruszków after he was suspected of involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage.
Arrest in Pruszków
Polish media outlet RMF FM reported that Wołodymyr Z., a Ukrainian citizen residing in Pruszków with his wife and children for three years, was arrested on Tuesday, September 30. He is under an European Arrest Warrant issued by Germany for alleged participation in a Nord Stream sabotage plot.
Unintentional Trigger of State Systems
According to RMF FM, the arrest began when authorities unintentionally activated state security systems during a routine property‑purchase inquiry. Legitimate administrative procedures were set in motion, leading to police arrival at Z.’s residence.
Property Purchase Motive
Z. reportedly sought to buy real‑estate in Poland. As a foreign national, his data was processed by the ministry of internal affairs, where officials discovered he was a target of the German European Arrest Warrant. This triggered a standard arrest operation, effectively initiating the warrant’s execution.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Z. was interrogated at the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office, where a lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, stated that his client denies any guilt. Prosecutors are expected to file a motion for temporary arrest on Wednesday morning. Evidence suggests that in September 2022, Z. planned to sail from the Port of Rostock into the Baltic Sea and detonate explosive charges on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2.
Background on Nord Stream Sabotage
German media outlets such as ARD, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit have reported that German investigators have identified all seven suspects involved in the plot. Six Ukrainian citizens, including Z., have received arrest warrants linked to the bombings of the gas pipelines.
