A Ukrainian individual was apprehended in Croatia on Wednesday in connection to the underwater explosions that caused damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany in 2022, as confirmed by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
The arrested person, identified as Vladimir Z., was taken into custody in Pula, Croatia, by local authorities executing a European warrant.
According to prosecutors, Vladimir Z., a proficient scuba diver, was part of a group responsible for planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022.
He is under strong suspicion of involvement in causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of buildings and structures.
The German government expressed satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the importance of resolving the pipeline bombing incidents.
A former Ukrainian army officer, Serhii K., was charged by German federal prosecutors early last month in connection with the same explosions. Serhii K. was apprehended in Italy in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany in November to face charges including causing an explosion, property damage, disruption of public service, and complicity in war crimes by attacking civilian targets.
German authorities alleged that Serhii K. and accomplices departed from Rostock port using a yacht rented from a German company.
Suspect Previously Detained in Poland
Germany is seeking the extradition of the suspect, whose extradition request was previously blocked by Poland for a person with the same name and initial last year.
A spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that the individual in question was identified by Polish authorities as Volodymyr Zhuravlov.
Poland has had longstanding objections to the Nord Stream pipelines, viewing them as a Russian strategy to leverage its vast energy resources across Europe.
On the day of Zhuravlov’s extradition hearing, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that it was not in Poland’s interest to hand him over.
It remains unclear why Zhuravlov left Poland despite the existing arrest warrant against him.
According to his Polish lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, Zhuravlov was aware that the ruling was only applicable within Poland, and his wife was surprised by his detention in Croatia.
Denials of Involvement by U.S. and Ukraine
The underwater explosions on September 26, 2022, caused damage to the pipelines designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The disruption escalated tensions amid the Ukraine conflict as European nations sought to reduce their reliance on Russian energy sources following the full-scale invasion by Russia.
The explosions not only ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Russia’s primary gas supply route to Germany until Moscow ceased supplies in August 2022, but also impacted Nord Stream 2, which remained uncertified by Germany before Russia’s invasion.
Russia has accused the United States of orchestrating the explosions, a claim refuted by Washington. The U.S. and some allies had criticized the pipelines, warning of increased European dependence on Russian gas.
The Ukrainian government has also denied any involvement in the sabotage plot.