Germany has issued arrest warrants for seven individuals suspected of organizing and carrying out explosions on the “Nord Stream-1” and “Nord Stream-2” gas pipelines in 2022. According to German media, all suspects hold Ukrainian citizenship.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Composition of the Group and Investigation Details
Journalists involved in the joint investigation report that the operation included four divers, one of whom is a woman, as well as an explosives specialist, a skipper, and a coordinator. The group’s coordinator has already been detained in Italy, and the extradition process to Germany is currently underway. He is accused of organizing the explosion, destruction of property, and unconstitutional sabotage, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Reactions and Consequences
One of the alleged group members was killed on the front lines, while others, according to the investigation, may be hiding in Ukraine. It has also been reported that one suspect was attempted to be taken into custody in Poland, but he evaded arrest by using a vehicle belonging to the Ukrainian military attaché. Germany has not yet submitted any official requests for the extradition of potential perpetrators of the explosion to the Ukrainian authorities.
“The report claims that the German government wants to stay as far away from the investigation as possible. Journalists describe the investigation’s findings as a political problem for the government of Friedrich Merz.”
Ukraine denies any involvement in this act of sabotage, while Russia traditionally blames the United States for the explosions. The blasts, which occurred on the night of September 26, 2022, near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, rendered strategic gas pipelines inoperable, through which Russian gas was supposed to be supplied to Germany.