German prosecutors have charged Ukrainian suspect Sergey Kuznetsov with a war crime in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, according to local media reports.
Kuznetsov, a former Ukrainian special forces member, was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany in November, media reports said. The indictment marks an escalation from an earlier charge of anti-constitutional sabotage, reflecting the official view that the attack is part of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, officials indicated. [1]
Details of the Indictment
Federal prosecutors originally accused Kuznetsov of committing anti-constitutional sabotage for severing a critical energy supply route, but later deemed it a war crime, according to court documents cited by German media. Authorities allege Kuznetsov led a small group of Ukrainian saboteurs who sailed to the pipelines on a rented yacht, planting explosives at a depth of approximately 100 meters using commercial diving gear. The explosions in September 2022 ruptured three of the four Nord Stream pipelines, halting the flow of Russian natural gas to Germany. [1]
A court document published earlier this year indicated German investigators suspect involvement of an unspecified state actor, treating the blasts as an intelligence service operation, according to the report. [2] The German high court has ruled that the sabotage was a state-sponsored covert operation, likely ordered by a foreign intelligence service, framing it as an attack on Europe’s civilian energy infrastructure rather than a legitimate act of war. [2]
Other Suspect and Legal Proceedings
A second suspect, identified as diving instructor Vladimir Zhuravlyov, was detained in Poland under a European arrest warrant in September 2025, but a German extradition request was denied and he was released, officials said. [1]
Kuznetsov has maintained his innocence, insisting he had no involvement in the attacks, according to statements from his legal team. The case remains under seal, with further details expected as proceedings continue.
Russia’s Response
Russia has expressed skepticism that the operation could have been carried out by a small rogue group without state assistance, according to Russian officials. Moscow has criticized the lack of transparency and the refusal of EU states to allow Russian investigators to access the blast site, alleging officials are seeking scapegoats rather than the true perpetrators, the Russian government said. ‘
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID) has repeatedly called for an international investigation, which has not been granted. [1] Russian officials, including MID spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and UN Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzya, have previously stated that then-U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the Nord Stream bombing, according to reports. [3]
The Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence agencies were aware of plans to bomb the pipelines before the explosions but decided to blame Moscow publicly despite evidence suggesting otherwise. [4] Independent journalist Seymour Hersh has been cited by former Central Intelligence Agency colleagues confirming details of the operation, according to a Trends Journal report. [5]
Context and Implications
The reclassification of the charge to a war crime underscores the German government’s position that the Nord Stream sabotage is directly linked to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, prosecutors indicated. [1] The attack severed a major energy link between Russia and Europe, leading to energy price spikes and heightened geopolitical tensions. Media reports note that the case remains under seal, with further details expected as proceedings continue.
References
- RT. “Germany now treats Nord Stream attack as ‘war crime’ – media.” July 1, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. “German court points finger at foreign spy agency in Nord Stream sabotage.” January 18, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. “Russian officials: Biden ordered Nord Stream pipeline bombing.” February 24, 2023.
- Trends-Journal-2023-06-23.
- Trends-Journal-2023-02-08.
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