German federal prosecutors reported that Serhii K, along with others, allegedly chartered a yacht from the German port of Rostock to execute the sabotage operation near the Danish island of Bornholm. The blasts, which occurred on September 26, 2022, crippled three of the four pipelines that were vital conduits for Russian gas to Germany. Although the Nord Stream 2 was never operational, the Nord Stream 1 pipelines had been supplying gas until Russia shut them down following Germany's cancellation of Nord Stream 2 approvals just before the invasion began.
Despite the explosive incident, which has sparked a web of accusations between Russia and Western nations, Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attacks. The arrest of Serhii K follows earlier investigations that suggested a group of Ukrainian divers might have orchestrated the sabotage. Notably, a German warrant had previously been issued for another suspect, Volodymyr Z, believed to be directly involved in the operation.
Italian authorities, particularly the carabinieri military police, apprehended Serhii K in the coastal resort town of Misano Adriatico. Following his extradition to Germany, he is expected to face charges relating to the explosion and sabotage that threatens constitutional order. So far, no conclusive evidence has emerged linking the attacks to any state actors, leaving the mystery of the Nord Stream blasts still unsolved.
