G erman authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man identified as Volodymyr Z., who is suspected of orchestrating the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines two years ago. The blasts, which severely damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2—major pipelines that transported Russian gas to Europe—led to widespread speculation and investigations into the responsible parties.
A spokeswoman for Poland’s Public Prosecutors Office, Anna Adamiak, confirmed that Germany had sent the arrest warrant to Poland, where the suspect was last known to be. However, he was not arrested as he was not listed in any database of wanted persons. Reports indicate that Volodymyr Z. left Poland shortly after the warrant was issued.
The arrest warrant follows joint investigative reports from German outlets ARD, Die Zeit, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, which revealed that German federal prosecutors suspect Volodymyr Z. and two other Ukrainian nationals of launching an audacious underwater attack on the pipeline from a sailing boat in September 2022. The group allegedly consisted of six individuals, including five men and one woman, who sailed from Rostock, Germany, making stops in Denmark, Sweden, and Poland. During this voyage, the suspects are believed to have dived into the Baltic Sea and attached explosives to the pipelines, leading to the subsequent explosions.
The origin of the blasts has been a subject of intense scrutiny, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although neither pipeline was actively transporting gas at the time, they still contained pressurized gas, which billowed out following the explosions. In November 2022, Swedish investigators discovered evidence of explosives at the site, leading to the conclusion that the blasts were caused by an act of sabotage.
The incident has heightened political tensions in Europe, with various theories circulating about the perpetrators. While Ukraine’s government has consistently denied any involvement in the attacks, intelligence reports reviewed by U.S. officials and other sources have suggested that a group loyal to Ukraine, possibly acting independently of the Kyiv government, may have been involved.
The Nord Stream pipelines were controversial long before the explosions, with several Western nations, including Poland, voicing concerns that the project would increase Russia's influence over Europe. Despite these concerns, Germany had supported the construction of the pipelines until Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted a halt to the project just as it was about to become operational.
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