German prosecutors announced on Thursday that Italian authorities have arrested a Ukrainian national suspected of involvement in the 2022 explosions that severely damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
In a statement, prosecutors identified the suspect only as Serhiy K., alleging that he was part of a group that planted explosives targeting the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near Denmark’s Bornholm Island in September 2022.
The arrest marks a new development in Europe’s ongoing investigation into the blasts, which triggered widespread controversy and a flurry of accusations among international and regional powers over who was responsible.
The September 26, 2022 explosions inflicted major damage on critical energy infrastructure that once served as a vital artery for transporting Russian natural gas to Europe. According to Der Spiegel magazine, the sabotage operation cost the perpetrators an estimated $300,000 to carry out.
The incident sent shockwaves through global energy markets, unfolding at the height of the war in Ukraine and deepening Europe’s energy crisis as the continent scrambled to replace Russian gas supplies.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office launched its own investigation, designating the attack as an act of international terrorism. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated on Thursday that Moscow has repeatedly requested access to information about the Nord Stream explosions but has yet to receive any official data.
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