German authorities announced the arrest of a Ukrainian man in Croatia on Wednesday in connection to the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines that link Russia and Germany. The suspect, identified as Vladimir Z., was apprehended in Pula by local police based on a European warrant. Prosecutors stated that the individual, who is a trained scuba diver, was part of a group responsible for planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022.
The suspect is accused of involvement in causing explosions, sabotage against the constitution, and destruction of structures. The German government expressed satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the importance of resolving the pipeline bombing incidents. Earlier, German prosecutors had pressed charges against another Ukrainian individual, Serhii K., for his alleged role in the same explosions. Serhii K. was detained in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany in November to face charges related to the sabotage.
It was revealed that the suspect had a previous arrest in Poland, where authorities had identified him as Volodymyr Zhuravlov. Poland had rejected a previous extradition request for this individual. The Nord Stream pipelines have been a contentious issue, with Poland opposing them due to concerns about Russia’s influence in Europe. The United States and Ukraine have both denied any involvement in the pipeline sabotage, which occurred amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine conflict and Europe’s efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy sources.