A Ukrainian man, identified as Serhii K, has been arrested in Italy on suspicion of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea. German prosecutors say he was part of a team that planted explosives on the pipelines, which severed a key source of natural gas for Europe during an energy crisis triggered by Russia’s war in 2022.
The blasts occurred in September 2022, several months after Russia invaded Ukraine. No one has admitted carrying out the attack, and Ukraine has denied involvement. The Ukrainian suspect was detained by Italian carabinieri military police while on a yacht that sailed from Germany to an area of the Baltic Sea near Denmark.
Prosecutors say Serhii K is suspected of being a mastermind behind the operation, which chartered a yacht and sailed to the target area. German authorities issued a warrant for another suspect, Volodymyr Z, last year, but no evidence has linked Ukraine, Russia, or any other state to the attacks.
The Nord Stream pipeline blasts had significant implications for Europe’s energy security, but the exact identity of those responsible remains unclear.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkz1jl5j06o