New details on the technical implementation of the Nord Stream sabotage in September 2022 have been revealed by German investigators.
German investigators believe that at least four explosive devices, each weighing between 14 and 27kg, were used to destroy pipelines at a depth of 70-80m in the Baltic Sea.
According to the arrest warrant for Ukrainian suspect Serhii K, the explosives included a mixture of RDX and HMX and were equipped with slow- detonation equipment.
According to German investigators, the Nord Stream sabotage operation involved a group of 6 people, including 1 captain, 4 divers and 1 explosives expert. The group coordinated to plant bombs on both the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.
Nord Stream suspect Serhii K is believed to have coordinated the entire sabotage. The 49-year-old Ukrainian man is a former employee of the Security Service and a former captain of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Serhii K was arrested on August 20 at a coastal resort near Rimini, Italy while on vacation with his family.
According to Italian media, suspect Serhii K has another identification document, Sergey Kulinich, issued by the Ukrainian government.
German media reported that Serhii K and the Nord Stream suspect group boarded the Andromeda yacht from Wiek, Germany's Rugen Island. A driver picked up Serhii K and brought Serhii K back to Ukraine. The remaining members of the Nord Stream sabotage suspect group returned to Hohe Dune near Warnemunde, where they rented a cruise ship.
The investigation into Germany's Nord Stream case began in October 2022. The German Federal Criminal Police and the German Federal Police conducted a diving robot underwater investigation, collecting soil samples and recovering debris from the gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
Intelligence from a diplomatic agency has led German investigators to the location of the Andromeda yacht. The yacht was leased on fake identification documents through a lining company in Poland. When checking the yacht, investigators found traces of fingerprints, traces of DNA and remaining explosives. The search for evidence also began from there.
According to Italian court documents in the trial of suspect Serhii K, the allegations against him are considered equivalent to a crime of terrorism under Italian law.
The Nord Stream suspect arrested in Italy is expected to be extradited to Germany for investigation and trial. Serhii K's lawyer, Mr. Luca Montebelli, said that the decision on extradition could be made as early as September 3, in the trial at the Bologna court. Any verdict made in this trial could be appealed in higher Italian courts.
Talks with the Italian Ministry of Justice are ongoing. To extradite Serhii K to Germany, the approval of the Italian Ministry of Justice is required.
The arrest of Ukrainian suspect Serhii K in Italy was the first arrest in a European sabotage scandal. However, this is not the first suspect wanted by investigators.
Last year, German authorities attempted to arrest another Ukrainian citizen - Volodymyr Z - in Poland, who is believed to be involved in the incident as a diver. Despite a European arrest warrant, the suspect escaped before Polish police found him.
