German prosecutors arrested Serhii K., a Ukrainian citizen suspected of coordinating the 2022 Nord Stream explosions. Authorities detained him overnight in Italy’s Rimini province. Prosecutors said he played a key role in planning the operation.
Explosions Strain European Energy Security
The September 26, 2022, blasts damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines under the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 1 supplied Russian gas to Germany until Moscow halted deliveries in August 2022. Germany suspended Nord Stream 2’s certification, so it never entered service. The sabotage increased tensions as Europe moved to reduce dependence on Russian energy.
Accusations and Conflicting Claims
Russia blamed the United States for the explosions, a claim Washington denies. U.S. and allies previously criticized the pipelines as threats to European energy security. In 2023, German media linked the sabotage to a pro-Ukraine group. Ukraine denied ordering the attack, and German officials cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
