German federal prosecutors have accused Ukrainian state authorities of ordering the 2022 explosives attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, charging a former Ukrainian army officer with war crimes. The indictment, announced on Thursday, claims the sabotage was directed by Kyiv to permanently halt gas supplies to Europe and prevent Russia from financing its war effort.
The suspect, identified as Serhiy Kuznietsov, was arrested in Italy last August and extradited to Germany in November. Prosecutors say he, along with other Ukrainian military personnel, devised the plan to destroy the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He faces charges including war crimes for attacking a civilian site, causing an explosion, and disrupting public services.
According to the indictment, Kuznietsov allegedly entered Germany via Poland on 4 September 2022 using a forged Ukrainian passport. He then boarded a chartered sailing yacht with other group members, using fake IDs to hire the vessel from a German company in Rostock. The team transported weapons-grade explosives to a site near the Danish island of Bornholm, where they affixed timed explosive devices to the seabed pipelines.
The devices detonated on 26 September 2022, severely damaging both pipelines and releasing record amounts of methane. At the time, Nord Stream 1 was a vital route for Russian gas, supplying about half of Germany's annual natural gas needs. The attack occurred after Russia had already choked off deliveries, citing sanctions and technical issues, which European countries condemned as energy weaponisation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had not yet received full details of the indictment and declined further comment. Germany, which has become Ukraine's largest national military backer, did not immediately respond. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland party is expected to use the case to push for an end to German military support for Ukraine ahead of September elections.
