Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, a major incident that severely disrupted Russian gas deliveries to Europe and intensified geopolitical tensions.
The Ukrainian national, believed to have played a key role in coordinating the sabotage, was taken into custody at a rented bungalow in San Clemente, a coastal town in Italy’s Rimini province.
Authorities acted on a European arrest warrant issued by the German authorities. The 49-year-old suspect, identified as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, is accused of helping carry out the underwater attacks that damaged three gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Investigators say he and a group of accomplices traveled by yacht from the German port city of Rostock to the area near Denmark’s Bornholm Island, where the explosives were allegedly planted.
The arrest marks a significant step in a long-running international investigation into one of the most high-profile energy infrastructure attacks in recent memory.
German prosecutors say the group rented the vessel using forged identity documents and intermediaries. Authorities also linked the yacht to traces of octogen, a powerful explosive found both onboard and at the underwater blast sites.
Investigation details and legal action
The Ukrainian man arrested in the Nord Stream sabotage case faces charges including conspiracy to cause an explosion, sabotage of constitutional structures, and destruction of critical infrastructure.
Italian police said they located the suspect after he submitted identification documents during a hotel check-in, which triggered an alert in the national police database. The Carabinieri then surrounded the bungalow and arrested him without resistance.
BREAKING:
🇮🇹🇺🇦 Ukrainian national arrested in Italy over suspected involvement in attack on Nord Stream pipelines – Reuters
Ukrainian citizen identified as Serhii K. was detained by Italian police in Rimini province based on a European arrest warrant issued by German… pic.twitter.com/WYz5oCqNML
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) August 21, 2025
His arrest comes at a delicate time for Ukraine, which is currently engaged in high-stakes negotiations with the United States over a potential resolution to the war with Russia. The talks aim to reach a diplomatic outcome without Ukraine being forced to cede any territory.
German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig addressed concerns over the potential political fallout of the arrest. She reaffirmed Germany’s continued support for Ukraine but stressed that the rule of law must be upheld. Any crimes committed within Germany’s jurisdiction, she said, would be thoroughly investigated regardless of political circumstances.
A senior official from the Ukrainian president’s office said it was too early to comment, as the individual’s identity had not yet been confirmed. The official repeated Ukraine’s earlier denial of any involvement in the pipeline blasts.
Background on the Nord Stream blasts
The Nord Stream attacks occurred in September 2022 and targeted both lines of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, as well as one line of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The incident crippled a key route for Russian gas into Europe. Moscow blamed Western nations, though it did not present evidence. The United States denied any role in the explosions.
Denmark and Sweden closed their investigations in early 2024, leaving Germany as the sole country still pursuing the case. A 2023 German investigation linked the operation to a rented boat secured through a Polish company. The vessel was suspected of transporting the equipment used in the sabotage.
Reports by The Washington Post and Der Spiegel previously suggested the attack may have been organized by a group with connections to a former Ukrainian intelligence officer, who has denied involvement. German media later reported a European warrant was also issued for a Ukrainian diving instructor believed to be among those who planted the explosives.
