Ukrainian Charged in Germany Over Nord Stream Blasts

By Reuters July 2, 2026 Danish Defense Ministry German federal prosecutors said Thursday that a Ukrainian national tied to the Nord Stream pipeline blasts has been charged with being an accomplice to a war crime, disruption of public services, causing an explosion and destroying structures. The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, is accused of acting on behalf of Ukrainian government entities alongside other military personnel to sabotage the undersea pipelines in 2022. Prosecutors said the plot aimed to permanently halt gas deliveries through the network and prevent Russia from using natural gas revenues to finance its war efforts. Serhii K., leading a team of professional divers and an explosives expert, arrived in Germany in September 2022 using a forged Ukrainian passport, and the team then boarded a chartered yacht rented with falsified identification. The group then transported large quantities of military-grade explosives through international waters to a location near the Danish island of Bornholm, where Serhii K. allegedly attached them directly to the pipelines, prosecutors said. Serhii K. was arrested in Italy last August and extradited to Germany in November. He has denied involvement. German courts have asserted jurisdiction over the case since the damaged pipelines terminate in Lubmin, located in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, directly affecting Germany's internal safety and energy security. Read more about: Germany , Nord Stream , Court cases , Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukrainian Arrested in Italy Over Nord Stream Sabotage The man, identified as Serhii K., is accused of being part of a group that blew up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in September 2022. 1 Min read Russian Man to Stand Trial in Germany for Murdering Ukrainian Soldiers The 57-year-old Russian national was arrested in April after the two Ukrainian soldiers were found stabbed to death at a shopping center. 1 Min read Scholz Says Germany Suspending Nord Stream 2 The move comes in response to Moscow formally recognizing the two separatist republics of eastern Ukraine. Merkel Struggles to Reassure Ukraine on Nord Stream 2 Ukraine's Zelenskiy warned that the pipeline was "a dangerous geopolitical weapon" for Moscow.