A Croatian police arrest was made on Wednesday, involving a Ukrainian man linked to the 2022 undersea explosions that caused damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany, as reported by Germany’s federal prosecutor. The individual, identified as Vladimir Z., was apprehended in Pula, Croatia, under a European warrant. Prosecutors stated that Vladimir Z., a skilled scuba diver, was part of a group responsible for planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. The suspect is alleged to have played a role in causing explosions, engaging in anti-constitutional sabotage, and destroying buildings and structures.
The arrest was positively received by the German government, with Justice Ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer expressing satisfaction over the progress made by the federal prosecutor’s office in investigating the pipeline bombings. In a separate case, German federal prosecutors recently pressed charges against a former Ukrainian army officer, Serhii K., in connection with the same explosions. Serhii K., who was detained in Italy in August 2025 and later extradited to Germany, is facing charges related to explosive activities, property damage, disruption of public services, and complicity in war crimes by targeting civilian objects.
Furthermore, Germany is in the process of seeking the extradition of the suspect, following a previous case where Poland refused to extradite a person with a similar name and initials. The individual in question, identified by Polish authorities as Volodymyr Zhuravlov, was confirmed to be the same person who faced extradition issues in Poland. The Ukrainian suspect’s actions have raised concerns, as he allegedly departed from the port of Rostock with accomplices using a yacht rented from a German company.
The series of undersea explosions on September 26, 2022, inflicted damage on the Nord Stream pipelines, which were designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea. These incidents exacerbated tensions amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, prompting European nations to reduce their reliance on Russian energy supplies following Russia’s invasion. The explosions impacted the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, previously a vital route for Russian gas deliveries to Germany until supplies were halted by Moscow in August 2022. Additionally, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was awaiting certification before the invasion, also suffered damage.
Amidst allegations from Russia accusing the U.S. of orchestrating the explosions, Washington has denied any involvement. The U.S. and its allies had criticized the Nord Stream pipelines, warning of heightened European dependence on Russian gas. Conversely, the Ukrainian government has refuted any claims suggesting their involvement in the sabotage plot.