A Ukrainian individual was apprehended on Wednesday in Croatia in connection with the subaquatic blasts that inflicted harm on the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany in 2022, as disclosed by Germany’s federal prosecutor. The arrested person, Vladimir Z., was taken into custody in Pula, Croatia, by local law enforcement executing a European warrant.
Authorities stated that Vladimir Z., a proficient scuba diver, was among a group of individuals who strategically planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines close to the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. He is under strong suspicion of collectively instigating explosions, engaging in anti-constitutional sabotage, and causing destruction to buildings and structures.
The arrest of Vladimir Z. was met with approval by the German government. Justice ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer highlighted the significance of progress in the investigations concerning the pipeline bombings.
German federal prosecutors had recently pressed charges against a former Ukrainian army officer named Serhii K. in connection with the same incidents. Serhii K. was detained in Italy back in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany in November, facing accusations of explosion-related offenses, property damage, service disruption, and complicity in war crimes by targeting civilian objects.
Allegations put forth by German authorities suggest that Serhii K. and accomplices departed from the port of Rostock, utilizing a yacht rented from a German firm.
In a separate incident, Poland impeded the extradition of an individual with a similar name and initial last year. It was confirmed by a spokesperson that the individual in question was Volodymyr Zhuravlov, as identified by Polish authorities. Poland’s resistance to the Nord Stream pipelines, interpreting them as a means for Russia to wield energy dominance across Europe, was evident during the extradition proceedings concerning Zhuravlov.
Additionally, the U.S. and Ukraine have refuted any involvement in the undersea explosions that transpired on September 26, 2022, causing damage to the pipelines designed for transporting Russian natural gas to Germany. The upheaval triggered by the explosions exacerbated tensions amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, prompting European nations to reduce reliance on Russian energy sources following the Kremlin’s military intervention.
Accusations by Russia against the U.S. for orchestrating the blasts have been firmly denied by Washington. The U.S. and certain allies had previously criticized the Nord Stream pipelines, cautioning against heightened European dependency on Russian gas. Furthermore, the Ukrainian government has disclaimed any role in the sabotage plot.