A Ukrainian diver has been taken into custody in Croatia on accusations that he participated in the September 2022 explosions that damaged three segments of the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany.
German prosecutors allege the arrested man, identified only as a trained diver named Vladimir Z, was part of the team that installed explosives in the undersea corridor. Public sources suggest he may actually be Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, who was previously detained in Poland amid the same plot.
In 2025, a Polish judge rejected a German extradition request, arguing that if Ukraine were responsible, the attack could be considered a “just” act; Zhuravlyov was consequently released, sparking surprise in the courtroom.
The other suspect, former Ukrainian military officer Serhiy Kuznetsov, was seized in Italy and later extradited to Germany. He denies involvement and is set to face charges of causing the explosions in Hamburg.
The Nord Stream blasts originally cast suspicion on Moscow, but evidence has increasingly pointed to Ukrainian operatives, igniting further diplomatic strain between Ukraine and its European allies.
Kyiv has repeatedly denied any role in the attacks, while Poland, the United States and other Western nations have long opposed the pipeline project for its political and economic implications.
