A Ukrainian individual was taken into custody on Wednesday in Croatia regarding the underwater blasts that caused damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany in 2022, as confirmed by Germany’s federal prosecutor. Identified as Vladimir Z., the arrest took place in Pula, Croatia, following the execution of a European warrant by local law enforcement. Prosecutors stated that Vladimir Z., an experienced scuba diver, was involved in a group that planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. Allegations include participation in causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of buildings and structures.
The arrest was welcomed by the German government, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the pipeline bombings. Justice ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the federal prosecutor’s office in the investigations.
Earlier last month, German federal prosecutors pressed charges against a former Ukrainian army officer, Serhii K., linked to the same explosions. Serhii K. was apprehended in Italy in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany in November to face charges related to explosion, property damage, disruption of public services, and involvement in attacking civilian objects as an “accomplice to war crimes.” German authorities allege that Serhii K. and accomplices departed from the port of Rostock using a yacht rented from a German company.
Germany intends to pursue the extradition of the suspect, although Poland had previously blocked the extradition request for a person with the same name and initial. Confirming that it was the same individual, a spokesperson disclosed that Polish authorities had identified him as Volodymyr Zhuravlov.
Poland’s resistance against the Nord Stream pipelines, which it views as a Russian attempt to leverage its energy resources across Europe, has been longstanding. Prime Minister Donald Tusk had earlier voiced that it was not in Poland’s interest to hand over Zhuravlov during the extradition hearing. The circumstances surrounding Zhuravlov’s departure from Poland despite the existing arrest warrant remain unclear. His Polish lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, mentioned that Zhuravlov and his wife were surprised by his detention in Croatia.
The undersea explosions on September 26, 2022, inflicted damage on the pipelines designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. This incident exacerbated tensions amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, prompting European nations to reduce their reliance on Russian energy supplies following Moscow’s full-scale invasion. The explosions impacted the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Russia’s primary gas supply route to Germany, leading to a suspension of supplies by Moscow in August 2022. Additionally, Nord Stream 2, which was yet to be operational as Germany halted its certification process shortly before Russia’s invasion, also suffered damage.
Amid accusations from Russia alleging U.S. involvement in orchestrating the explosions, Washington has refuted these claims. The U.S. and some allies had previously criticized the pipelines, citing concerns over increased European dependency on Russian gas. The Ukrainian government has similarly denied any involvement in the sabotage plot.