German Prosecutors Link Ukraine to Nord Stream Pipeline Attack

German prosecutors have made a major announcement regarding the 2022 destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. According to The Guardian, the federal prosecutor’s office has accused Ukrainian state authorities of ordering the attack. The pipelines, which ran under the Baltic Sea, were designed to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. The destruction of this infrastructure caused significant damage and released large amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere.

Legal documents reveal that the operation was carried out by a group of military personnel, including a former officer identified as Serhiy Kuznietsov. Prosecutors state that Kuznietsov and his team were acting under orders from Ukrainian authorities. The goal of the mission was to permanently stop gas supplies through the pipelines. By doing this, the group hoped to prevent Russia from using money earned from gas sales to pay for its war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

Deutsche Welle (DW) reports that the suspects allegedly used fake passports to enter Germany. Once there, they rented a sailing yacht named the "Andromeda" from a company in the city of Rostock. Investigators found traces of powerful military explosives, known as HMX and RDX, on the boat. Prosecutors say the team traveled to a location near the Danish island of Bornholm, where they attached explosive devices with timers to the seafloor pipelines. The devices exploded on September 26, 2022, causing severe damage to both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 lines.

Before this incident, Nord Stream 1 was a vital energy source for Germany, providing about half of the country’s annual natural gas needs. At the time of the explosion, Russia had already limited gas deliveries, claiming that western sanctions—official penalties used to pressure a country—and technical issues were to blame. European nations, however, accused Russia of using energy supplies as a weapon. The damage to the pipelines forced Germany to quickly find new ways to meet its energy needs during a difficult time for the European economy.

This case is legally complex. Kuznietsov was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and later sent to Germany to face trial. He has been charged with war crimes for attacking a civilian site, as well as causing an explosion and disrupting public services. According to DW, the suspect denies any involvement in the sabotage. His lawyer has expressed confidence that his client will be found innocent, or "acquitted," when the case goes to court.

For the German government, these findings present a difficult situation. Germany is currently Ukraine’s largest national military supporter in its fight against the Russian invasion. Because of this close relationship, the accusation that Ukrainian authorities ordered an attack on German-linked infrastructure is diplomatically sensitive. So far, the German government has not made an official comment on the specific charges.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the situation on Wednesday. He told reporters that he had not yet received the full details of the indictment—the formal list of charges against the suspect. He noted that the relevant authorities from both countries would need to communicate before Ukraine can provide a formal response. "For now, it is too early to speak," he said.

In the years since the explosion, many different theories about who was responsible have circulated. Initially, suspicion fell on both Russia and the United States, as both countries had criticized the pipelines for making Europe too dependent on Russian energy. However, the focus of the investigation eventually shifted toward Ukraine. As the legal process continues, the international community will be watching closely to see how this revelation affects the strong military ties between Berlin and Kyiv. For now, the focus remains on the trial of the accused officer and the official response from the Ukrainian government.