German media reported that investigators in the country had released the entire sabotage group behind the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline explosions in September 2022. According to Die Zeit newspaper, there are 7 subjects involved, of which 6 suspects are Ukrainian. The indictment shows that the arrest warrants have been issued.
Of the seven suspects, one is believed to have died in December 2024 while participating in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The remaining six are currently facing the risk of being tried in Germany. The members of this group are said to have sufficient roles from captain, coordinator, explosives expert to 4 divers. They approached the Baltic Sea site by the Andromeda cruise ship departing from Rostock (Germany).
One of the prominent suspects, Sergey K., a Ukrainian citizen, was arrested in Italy on August 21. A security source said Sergey K. studied at an intelligence officer training school and worked for a Ukrainian intelligence agency until 2015, before switching to the energy sector. After Russia launched a military campaign, he is believed to have returned to serve the Ukrainian special forces.
Sergey K. was accused of coordinating a group of seven people, who hired an Andromeda cruise ship with a fake passport and planted explosives underwater near Bornholm Island. If convicted in Germany, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
The joint investigation of Die Zeit, Sueddeutsche Zeitung and ARD TV channel also revealed details that some crew members of the Andromeda squadron have clear connections with Ukrainian secret service or the army. The group of suspects traveled through Poland using real Ukrainian passports but used fake names. Notably, a member was taken by a car of a Ukrainian military attache from Poland to Kiev to avoid arrest.
However, the German prosecutor stressed that there is currently not enough evidence to confirm that this was an official campaign directed by the Ukrainian state, or the actions of a special forces group hired by a third party. The ARD said: "There are signs that some defendants are close to the Ukrainian government and have a strong sense of patriotism."
The explosions on September 26, 2022 destroyed three of the four branches of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, causing serious damage to Europe's energy infrastructure. Russia insists it has the involvement of the US and opened an investigation with the accusation of international terrorism.
The incident continues to spark fierce controversies about energy security, Kiev's role and the complexity of the Russia-Western confrontation. With a series of arrest warrants issued, the Nord Stream case could soon enter a new tense legal phase.
