A Ukrainian individual was apprehended on Wednesday in Croatia in connection with underwater blasts that caused harm to the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany in 2022, as announced by Germany’s federal prosecutor. The man, identified as Vladimir Z., was taken into custody in Pula, Croatia, under a European warrant executed by local law enforcement. According to prosecutors, Vladimir Z., a proficient 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. Allegations suggest his involvement in orchestrating explosions, engaging in anti-constitutional sabotage, and causing destruction to buildings and structures.
The German government expressed satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the importance of resolving the pipeline bombing incidents. A justice ministry spokesperson in Berlin, Nicholas Limmer, acknowledged the progress made by the federal prosecutor’s office in the ongoing investigations.
In a separate incident, German federal prosecutors previously pressed charges against a former Ukrainian military officer, Serhii K., related to the same explosions. Serhii K., detained in Italy in August 2025 and later extradited to Germany in November, is facing accusations of explosion-induced damage, property destruction, disruption of public service, and complicity in war crimes by targeting civilian entities. German authorities assert that Serhii K. and accomplices departed from the port of Rostock using a yacht leased from a German firm.
Regarding extradition proceedings, Germany intends to pursue the extradition of the suspect. Notably, Poland thwarted a previous extradition request involving an individual with a similar name and initial. A spokesperson confirmed that the individual in question was Volodymyr Zhuravlov, as identified by Polish authorities. Poland’s resistance to the extradition was rooted in long-standing opposition to the Nord Stream pipelines, perceiving them as a Russian strategy to leverage energy dominance in Europe.
The circumstances surrounding Volodymyr Zhuravlov’s departure from Poland despite an active arrest warrant remain unclear. His Polish lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, clarified that Zhuravlov’s understanding of the legal implications was limited to Polish territory, highlighting the surprise experienced by his wife upon his detention in Croatia.
Following undersea detonations on September 26, 2022, the pipelines designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea suffered severe damage. These incidents exacerbated tensions amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, prompting European nations to reduce reliance on Russian energy sources post the Kremlin’s military actions. The explosions impacted the operational Nord Stream 1 pipeline, a crucial gas supply route to Germany that had been cut off by Russia in August 2022. Furthermore, they inflicted harm on Nord Stream 2, which was yet to commence operations as Germany had suspended its certification process shortly before the Russian invasion.
Amid allegations and denials, Russia has accused the U.S. of orchestrating the explosions, an assertion refuted by Washington. The U.S. and some allies had previously criticized the Nord Stream pipelines, citing concerns over increased European dependence on Russian gas. Additionally, the Ukrainian government has refuted any involvement in the sabotage plot.