Nord Stream trial: German police evidence trail leads to Ukraine

A trial opens next week in Hamburg, Germany, of a former Ukrainian special forces soldier known as Serhii K, who is accused of commanding the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea. The pipelines carried Russian gas to Germany. He is charged with causing an explosion and with a war crime, attacking civilian infrastructure, allegedly on behalf of Ukrainian state agencies. He and Ukraine both deny involvement.

The blasts and the investigation

The first explosion came at 02:03 on 26 September 2022. Both Nord Stream 2, not yet operating but already filled with gas, and Nord Stream 1, which had supplied about half of Germany's annual gas demand, were damaged. Neither has worked since.

Prosecutors say four timer-activated explosive devices, each weighing up to 27kg, were placed about 80m down. They strongly suspect Serhii K led a crew including four deep-sea divers aboard a rented yacht, Andromeda, where some of them allegedly left DNA evidence.

Many experts and governments first blamed Russia, but German police followed the forensic evidence, which led to Ukraine. The suspect allegedly entered Germany on a forged passport, probably issued by Ukraine's security services. After the blasts he travelled without problems to countries including France, Spain and Canada. After he was detected crossing into Poland on 13 August 2025, Italian police arrested him at a glamping resort near the Adriatic coast.

A second suspect and political fallout

Another named suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, who lives in Warsaw, is fighting extradition from Croatia and denies any role. A Polish judge earlier refused to extradite him.

The case is awkward for Berlin and Kyiv. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said the debate should focus on who built the pipelines rather than who blew them up. Germany's far-right AfD party has used the case to argue against supporting Ukraine.

In court, Serhii K will say nothing; his lawyers will argue he is not authorised to disclose details of his military activities.