Second Ukrainian Suspect Arrested in Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage Case

German federal prosecutors announced the arrest of a second Ukrainian national in Pula, Croatia, regarding the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, according to statements reported on Wednesday. Local Croatian police detained the suspect, identified as a trained scuba diver named Vladimir Z., acting on a European arrest warrant issued by Germany.

According to prosecutors, the suspect is strongly suspected of jointly causing the explosions that rendered the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines inoperable in the Baltic Sea. German authorities are actively pursuing his extradition from Croatia. Deutsche Welle reported that the same individual had previously been detained in Poland in September 2025, but was released after a German extradition request was turned down at that time.

Background and Prior Investigation Details

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were constructed to transport natural gas directly from Russia to Germany and other European markets. The sabotage occurred in September 2022, arriving just months after Russia launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. At the time of the blasts, Nord Stream 2 had not yet entered commercial service, while Nord Stream 1 flows had already been heavily curtailed by Moscow.

German investigators have previously indicated their belief that the pipeline attack was carried out as a deliberate sabotage operation ordered by unspecified Ukrainian state entities. Kyiv has consistently denied any involvement in the incident. According to prosecutors, the underlying plot aimed to permanently sever gas delivery routes and block Moscow from collecting natural gas revenue to finance its military campaigns.

International Arrests and Extradition Efforts

The arrest in Croatia follows previous legal actions connected to the multi-nation investigation into the Baltic Sea blasts. According to Deutsche Welle and The Washington Post, another Ukrainian national suspected of coordinating the underwater explosives plot was arrested in Italy last year. The Washington Post reported that investigators believe the sabotage cell utilized a chartered yacht departing from Germany’s Baltic coast to transport and place the explosives on the pipelines.

European authorities continue to coordinate cross-border legal proceedings as German prosecutors seek to bring Vladimir Z. to trial. The unfolding case highlights ongoing judicial cooperation between Germany, Italy, and Croatia as prosecutors press forward with their investigation into the undersea infrastructure attacks.