Second Ukrainian suspect arrested in Croatia over Nord Stream sabotage

German prosecutors announced Wednesday the arrest of a second Ukrainian suspect in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, marking a major step forward in one of Europe's most politically sensitive investigations.

The suspect, identified as Vladimir Z. in accordance with German privacy laws, was detained in the Croatian coastal city of Pula by local police acting on a European arrest warrant, Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Prosecutors said he is a trained scuba diver who "is strongly suspected of jointly causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of buildings and structures."euractiv+2

The Allegations

According to German prosecutors, Vladimir Z. was part of a group led by former Ukrainian army officer Serhii K. that planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. The group allegedly used a sailing yacht rented from a German company with falsified identification documents, departing from the port of Rostock.aljazeera+3

"The suspect participated in the necessary dives" to place the explosives, prosecutors said. He is reported to have worked closely with Serhii K., who was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany in November of that year. Serhii K. was charged in July with orchestrating the blasts while acting on behalf of Ukrainian state entities.reuters+3

Vladimir Z. had previously been detained in Poland in September 2025 but was released after Germany's extradition request was refused. Germany will now pursue his extradition from Croatia.euronews+1

Political Context

The German government welcomed the arrest. "We're simply glad that the federal prosecutor's office is making progress in these investigations, because it's important that the bombing of the pipelines be clarified as well," Justice Ministry spokesman Nicholas Limmer told reporters in Berlin.aljazeera

The September 2022 explosions destroyed three of four Nord Stream pipeline lines, severing what had been a vital route for Russian gas exports to Europe. German prosecutors have said the aim of the alleged attack was to permanently halt gas deliveries and prevent Russia from using natural gas revenue to finance its war in Ukraine.wral+2

Authorities in Kyiv have denied involvement and said they did not have enough information to respond in detail to the German allegations. Serhii K.'s trial is scheduled to begin this fall at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg.aa+2