A Ukrainian man has appeared in a German court to face charges of bombing the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea several years ago. He is accused of playing a key role in the attack but denies the allegations. Tags: [trial, Germany, Ukraine, Nord Stream, bombing, Baltic Sea]
Foreign news agencies reported that 50-year-old Ukrainian Serhiy Kuznetsov appeared in court in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday (14 Oct 2026 GMT+7) to face charges related to the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, linking Germany and Russia, which occurred in September 2022.Tags: [court, Hamburg, Germany, Serhiy Kuznetsov, Nord Stream, sabotage]
Originally, German prosecutors referred to him as "Serhiy K." and concealed his face, but recently he waived his right to anonymity and appeared in court with a relaxed and smiling demeanor.Tags: [prosecutors, anonymity, court appearance, Serhiy Kuznetsov]
German prosecutors stated he led the operation and commanded divers and explosives experts to attack this civilian infrastructure, which qualifies as a "war crime."Tags: [prosecutors, leadership, divers, explosives, war crime, civilian infrastructure]
However, Kuznetsov, who was extradited to Germany last year, denies all charges, as does a second suspect who is currently contesting extradition proceedings from Croatia.Tags: [extradition, denial, charges, suspects, Germany, Croatia]
Meanwhile, Nikola Ganestrini, Kuznetsov’s Italian lawyer, said that during the four-year investigation, prosecutors found no eyewitnesses, forensic evidence, DNA, or fingerprints linking his client to the case.Tags: [lawyer, investigation, forensic evidence, DNA, fingerprints, prosecution]
The defense argued that as a military man, the defendant is bound by confidentiality rules, limiting his ability to disclose details or present witnesses in his defense. They also viewed the extradition process as flawed because initially, war crime charges were not specified.Tags: [defense, military confidentiality, extradition, procedural issues, war crime charges]
In 2022, three of the four Nord Stream 3 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea near Bornholm Island were bombed and damaged amid heightened tensions between Europe and Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Tags: [Nord Stream 3, gas pipelines, bombing, Baltic Sea, Bornholm, Europe-Russia tensions]
Initially, European countries suspected Russia was behind the attack. Over time, German prosecutors focused on a group of divers who had rented the yacht Andromeda from Rostock, noting explosive residues found underwater from samples collected from the vessel.Tags: [Europe, Russia, suspicion, German prosecutors, divers, yacht Andromeda, Rostock, explosive residues]
Although President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently denied Ukraine’s involvement in the Nord Stream attack, German prosecutors’ indictments allege the perpetrators acted under orders from a Ukrainian state agency. Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Mareshko stated that the Nord Stream pipelines were merely tools used by Russia to prepare for war.Tags: [Zelensky, Ukraine denial, German prosecutors, Ukrainian state agency, Oleksandr Mareshko, Nord Stream, Russia]
Previously, another Ukrainian named Volodymyr Suraflov avoided extradition from Poland because the court deemed the mission a lawful act during wartime. However, he was arrested again in Croatia in August 2025, and Croatia approved his extradition to Germany in September.Tags: [Volodymyr Suraflov, extradition, Poland, Croatia, lawful wartime act, arrest]
Follow international news:Tags: [international news, updates]https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreignTags: [news source, Thairath]
Source:Tags: []bbcTags: [BBC, news source]