Germany Seeks Arrest of Ukrainian Diver in Nord Stream Sabotage Case

Germany is pursuing the arrest of a Ukrainian diver linked to the Nord Stream sabotage, intensifying its investigation into the pipeline attack.

According to reports from German media, a European arrest warrant has been released by Germany for the Ukrainian diving instructor who is suspected of playing a part in sabotaging Nord Stream pipelines situated within the Baltic Sea.

According to German media reports on Wednesday, Volodymyr Z is believed by investigators to have been part of a group responsible for placing explosive devices along the pipeline transporting natural gas from Russia to Germany in September 2022. Due to legal restrictions in Germany, the suspect’s last name cannot be revealed publicly.

On multiple occasions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied allegations that his country was responsible for the sabotage that caused interference in Russian gas exports to the European Union. The incident had a significant impact on Moscow’s energy revenues.

Unnamed sources cited by Suddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit newspapers and the ARD public broadcaster reveal that Volodymyr Z’s last known residence was in Poland.

“Volodymyr Z,” a Ukrainian man suspected in the Nord Stream attack, has an arrest warrant issued against him by Germany which was confirmed to have been received by the Polish prosecutor’s office on Wednesday.

The warrant was received in June, however the suspect departed for Ukraine just last month. Additionally, it was disclosed that authorities were unable to prevent his departure due to a lack of communication with the country’s border guard.

According to a report by German media, additional Ukrainian diving instructors have been identified in the ongoing investigation. These individuals include both a male and female, but currently there are no arrest warrants issued for them at this time like with Volodymyr Z.

On September 26th, 2022, Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines endured significant damage due to multiple explosions detected close to the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Consequently, four leaks were promptly discovered.

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Before the commissioning of Nord Stream 2, with a yearly capacity of 63 billion cubic metres (82.4 billion cubic yards), Russia’s natural gas made its way to Germany via Nord Stream 1 – likewise capable in size.

The purpose of constructing the route was to redirect Russia’s gas exports towards the European Union, circumventing their heavy reliance on Ukraine’s pipelines.

Russia had successfully generated high profits through gas exports to the EU, until February 2022 when their full-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequent political conflicts led to a significant decline in this trade.

The Nord Stream blasts resulted in mutual accusations between Russia and the West. Despite both parties denying any involvement, no one has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The case was investigated by authorities in multiple countries; however, Denmark and Sweden terminated their investigations without reaching any conclusion.

A ship was raided by Germany in January 2023, suspecting it to have been utilized for explosive transportation. They informed the United Nations that professional divers might have fastened gadgets onto pipelines ranging from about 70-80 meters (230-260 feet) deep.

The New York Times stated in March of last year that US officials had received intelligence suggesting a “pro-Ukrainian group” was behind the explosions without Zelenskyy being aware.