The Italian appellate court in Bologna on October 23 delayed its decision regarding the extradition to Germany of a Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines. It is known that after lengthy discussions, the judges were unable to reach a final conclusion, and the date for announcing the decision has not yet been determined.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Details of the Case and the Ukrainian Connection
The case involves a Ukrainian known as Sergey K. Earlier this month, his extradition process was suspended due to procedural issues. The defense of the suspect is convinced that the court ruling in Warsaw, which denied the extradition of another suspect, may strengthen their position in this case.
“The novelty lies in the Polish precedent regarding an alleged accomplice in the same crime, which I believe must be taken into account,” said Sergey K.’s lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, in a written comment.
The incident occurred on September 26, 2022: an explosive device caused significant damage to both strands of the pipelines – of the four functioning lines, three were destroyed. The Nord Stream pipeline was created to transport Russian gas to Western Europe, but due to the explosions, it cannot be restored.
Investigation and Political Context
Sweden, Denmark, and Germany conducted their own investigations, which confirmed the sabotage nature of the explosions; however, no perpetrators have been identified yet. Russia has refused to participate in the international investigation, instead, the Kremlin accuses the U.S. and its allies, who categorically deny these allegations.
Some Western media have noted that individuals connected to Ukrainian intelligence services may be involved in organizing the explosions, but official Kyiv rejects these accusations. Meanwhile, the German prosecutor’s office emphasized that the explosions constituted a serious attack on the country’s energy infrastructure, regardless of the political motives of those involved.
As of 2025, the Nord Stream pipelines are under EU sanctions, as European countries consider them a potential tool for pressure from Moscow on all of Europe.