A man from Ukraine was apprehended in Croatia on Wednesday in connection with the underwater explosions that caused damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany in 2022, as stated by Germany’s federal prosecutor. The arrested individual, identified as Vladimir Z., was taken into custody in Pula, Croatia, under a European warrant executed by local law enforcement. According to prosecutors, Vladimir Z., a certified scuba diver, was part of a group that planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. He is suspected of involvement in causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of infrastructure.
The German government expressed satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the pipeline bombings. In a briefing in Berlin, justice ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer commended the progress made by the federal prosecutor’s office in the investigation.
Recently, German federal prosecutors pressed charges against a former Ukrainian army officer, Serhii K., associated with the same explosions. Serhii K. was apprehended in Italy in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to Germany in November. He is facing allegations of explosion-related offenses, property damage, disruption of public services, and complicity in war crimes by targeting civilian assets. German authorities claim that Serhii K. and accomplices departed from Rostock port using a yacht rented from a German company.
In a prior incident, Poland resisted the extradition of a suspect with the same name and initial. This individual, identified as Volodymyr Zhuravlov by Polish authorities, is confirmed to be the same person detained in Croatia. Poland’s reluctance to extradite him was linked to its opposition to the Nord Stream pipelines, which are perceived as a Russian strategy to leverage energy resources in Europe. Notably, it remains unclear why Zhuravlov left Poland despite the outstanding arrest warrant against him.
Amid the investigations, both the United States and Ukraine have denied any involvement in the underwater explosions that disrupted the gas pipelines between Russia and Germany. The incidents, occurring on September 26, 2022, exacerbated tensions during the Ukraine conflict, prompting European nations to reduce reliance on Russian energy supplies following the invasion by the Kremlin. The damaged pipelines, Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, suffered ruptures leading to gas supply interruptions and certification suspension, respectively. Russia has accused the U.S. of orchestrating the explosions, an allegation refuted by Washington, while the Ukrainian government has also disclaimed any role in the sabotage.
