German prosecutors say a Ukrainian man has been arrested in Italy on suspicion of blowing up the Nord Stream gasoline pipelines underneath the Baltic Sea, a number of months after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The person, recognized solely as Serhii Ok, was arrested within the province of Rimini and was a part of a bunch who planted explosives underneath the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines from Russia to Germany, federal prosecutors say.
The Ukrainian is suspected of being one of many masterminds of the operation, which concerned charting a yacht and crusing from the German port of Rostock.
Ukraine has denied involvement within the blasts, which severed a key supply of pure gasoline for Europe.
Though Nord Stream 2 by no means went into operation, Nord Stream 1’s two pipelines had offered a gentle provide 1,200km (745 miles) underneath the Baltic from the Russian coast to north-eastern Germany.
Shortly earlier than Russia’s invasion, Germany had cancelled its course of to approve Nord Stream 2, which was 100% owned by Russian gasoline big Gazprom. Months later, Russia shut down Nord Stream 1.
Then, on 26 September 2022, a number of explosions have been recorded near the Danish island of Bornholm that ruptured three of the 4 pipelines.
Thriller surrounded the identification of the saboteurs – nonetheless final 12 months German experiences recommended a staff of Ukrainian divers had employed a German yacht and sailed out into the Baltic to assault the pipelines.
German prosecutors issued a warrant for the arrest of a diver named Volodymyr Z final August.
They mentioned the suspect held in Rimini can be introduced earlier than an investigating decide after he was extradited from Italy.
The prosecutors mentioned the person was “strongly suspected of collectively inflicting an explosion and of sabotage undermining the structure”.
There is no such thing as a proof up to now linking Ukraine, Russia or another state to the assaults.
