Ukrainian soldier to go on trial over sabotage of Nord Stream gas pipelines
Special forces officer Serhii Kuznetsov denies involvement in the 2022 blasts that left pipelines badly damaged
TL;DR
- Ukrainian special forces officer Serhii Kuznetsov faces trial in Hamburg for alleged involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
- Prosecutors accuse Kuznetsov of being an accomplice to war crimes, including damaging property and disrupting public services.
- Kuznetsov, who denies involvement, was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany.
- The explosions in September 2022 severely damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which carried Russian natural gas to Germany.
- The attacks occurred as Europe sought to reduce its reliance on Russian energy.
- German prosecutors have accused Ukrainian "state authorities" of ordering the attack, aiming to halt gas supplies and prevent Russia from financing its war effort.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied his country's involvement.
- A second suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, was arrested in Croatia and is fighting extradition.
- The trial is politically sensitive, with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party using the incident to argue for the reinstatement of the pipeline.
- Russia has denied involvement and blamed the US, which has also denied it.
- The court rejected a request by Russia to participate as a co-plaintiff.
- Kuznetsov is expected to exercise his right to remain silent, with his legal team potentially presenting affidavits from superiors.