A Ukrainian man has been arrested in Italy over suspected involvement in 2022 pipeline blasts on Nord Stream gas pipelines, sharpening tensions between Russia and the West. The suspect, identified as Serhii K., was a former Ukrainian officer who allegedly coordinated the attacks with his accomplices.
According to prosecutors, the suspect used a sailing yacht to carry out the attack, planting devices on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Authorities acted on a European arrest warrant for the suspect, charging him with collusion to cause an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of important structures.
The arrest comes amid fraught diplomatic discussions between Ukraine and the US over ending the war without major concessions. German prosecutors declined to comment on reports that the suspect was a retired captain in Ukraine’s armed forces who previously served in the country’s security service SBU.
The Nord Stream pipeline blasts, which occurred in September 2022, largely severed Russian gas supplies to Europe, prompting a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict. Moscow blamed Western sabotage for the blasts, while the US denied involvement.
An official in the Ukrainian president’s office reiterated that Ukraine has denied any role in the attacks, and Russia’s ambassador to Germany criticized the “meagre” information on the case provided by German authorities. The suspect faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/ukrainian-man-arrested-italy-over-nord-stream-pipeline-attacks-2025-08-21