A man from Ukraine was taken into custody on Wednesday in Croatia for his alleged involvement in underwater blasts that caused damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in 2022, as per Germany’s federal prosecutor. The individual, identified as Vladimir Z., was apprehended in Pula, Croatia, under a European warrant by local authorities. Reports indicate that Vladimir Z., a skilled scuba diver, was part of a group that planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. He is suspected of collaborating in causing explosions, sabotage against the constitution, and destruction of buildings and structures.
German officials expressed satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the significance of clarifying the pipeline bombings. German federal prosecutors previously pressed charges against another individual, Serhii K., a former Ukrainian army officer, in connection with the same explosions. Serhii K. was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany in November on charges including causing an explosion, property damage, disruption of public service, and complicity in war crimes by targeting civilian objects. It is alleged that Serhii K. and accomplices departed from the port of Rostock using a yacht rented from a German firm.
Germany is seeking to extradite the suspect, although Poland had previously blocked the extradition of an individual with a similar name and initial. The spokesperson confirmed that the individual in question was Volodymyr Zhuravlov, as identified by Polish authorities. Poland’s opposition to the Nord Stream pipelines is well-documented, reflecting concerns about Russian influence in Europe’s energy sector. The United States and Ukraine have both denied involvement in the pipeline attacks, which occurred amidst heightened tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict and efforts by European nations to reduce reliance on Russian energy sources. Russia has accused the U.S. of orchestrating the explosions, a claim refuted by Washington. Ukraine has also disavowed any role in the sabotage incident.