Ukrainian arrested – suspected of Nord Stream sabotage

 

TT

 

Published 11.38Updated 11.57

 

The Nord Stream pipelines were blown up in September 2022. Photo: Coast Guard/AP/TT

A Ukrainian person has been arrested, suspected of involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream 2022 gas pipeline, German prosecutors announced according to media.

The arrest reportedly took place in Pula, Croatia.

The man detained is Ukrainian, is referred to in the documents as “Vladimir Z” and is, according to the prosecutor’s office, a recreational diver. He is suspected on probable grounds of having been involved in the explosions.

It was in September 2022 that it was discovered that the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, had leaked. Seismic measurements showed that explosions had taken place in the sea shortly before. Swedish prosecutors later confirmed that the pipelines had been blown up.

The sabotage was previously reported to have been carried out with the knowledge of the Ukrainian military. In addition to the man now arrested, a captain, an explosives expert and several other deep-sea divers are said to have been involved. Formal charges have been brought against a 50-year-old Ukrainian man.