A former Ukrainian officer goes on trial in Hamburg accused of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. The case tests German-Ukrainian relations amid rising political pressure in Germany.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
A former Ukrainian army officer goes on trial in Hamburg on Wednesday, accused of plotting to destroy the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. Serhii K., identified in court documents as Serhiy Kuznetsov, is the first suspect to face trial for the explosions that ruptured three of the four pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
German prosecutors allege that Kuznetsov, a serving officer in the Ukrainian army at the time, led a group of divers who rented a yacht called the Andromeda from the port of Rostock. According to the indictment, the group planted explosives on the seabed near the island of Bornholm. Prosecutors state that "traces of subsea explosives were found in the samples taken from the boat."
The charges include complicity in a war crime, disruption of public services, causing an explosion, and destroying structures. German prosecutors allege the saboteurs conceived the plot "acting by order of Ukrainian state agencies." The goal, according to the indictment, was to stop Russia from financing its war with gas revenue.
Kuznetsov denies the charges. His lawyer, Jes Meyer-Lohkamp, said prosecutors "have not presented any direct and conclusive evidence of our client's involvement." Kuznetsov was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany late last year.
The trial places strain on relations between Berlin and Kyiv. Ukraine has consistently denied involvement. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in August, "Ukraine has never officially taken part in any operation related to the blowing up of Nord Stream."
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Ukrainian parliament, told the BBC that his country has no confirmation of the German account, calling it "one of the versions." He argued that Nord Stream 2 was "nothing but a tool used by Russia in order to get prepared for the war."
In contrast, Stefan Meister of the German Council on Foreign Relations noted that the German government has tried to "depoliticise" the case, leaving it to the judiciary. However, the classification of the act as a war crime has caused outrage in Kyiv.
The trial coincides with growing political pressure in Germany regarding support for Ukraine. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing populist Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason (BSW) have criticized continued aid to Kyiv.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, asserted in early 2026 that the German government must seek financial repayment from Ukraine. She stated that if her party came into power, she would demand Kyiv compensate Germany for blowing up the pipeline and pay for its repair. According to her, a country that does such things is "no friend of Germany." She has, however, failed to provide proof that Ukraine was behind the attack.
Sahra Wagenknecht, former leader of the BSW, told Reuters in 2025 that it is "totally absurd" that Germany spends billions on aid for Ukraine without demanding an explanation from Zelensky.
Russia has accused the US and its UK allies of involvement, a claim denied by Washington and London. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia expects "objectivity" from the trial and hopes that "both the perpetrators and the sponsors will be identified."
A second suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlov, is currently in custody in Croatia fighting extradition. A Polish court previously refused to extradite him, with a judge stating that if Ukraine had organized the mission, it was "justified, rational and just."
The trial is a critical test for Germany's judicial independence and its foreign policy. While the German government maintains that support for Ukraine is driven by national security interests, the outcome could influence public opinion and political debates in Germany, where the AfD has gained significant support in recent elections. The case also highlights the complex legal and diplomatic challenges of investigating sabotage during an ongoing war.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
Colombia’s government has modified guidelines for police response to street protests, allowing officers more leeway to break up demonstrations involving vandalism or roadblocks.
A passenger train derailed in Pakistan's Punjab province, killing at least five people and injuring over 30. All 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express left the tracks near Multan.
