In Croatia, a Ukrainian was detained in the 'Nord Streams' case: Poland previously refused his extradition

In Croatia, a citizen of Ukraine, whom the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany seeks in the case of blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, has been detained. This same suspect had previously been detained in Poland, but a Polish court refused to extradite him to Germany.

Tagesschau reports the new detention, citing the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany. The suspect was detained by Croatian law enforcement officers on the basis of a European arrest warrant.

This is about a citizen of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zh., whom German investigators consider one of the members of the group involved in the explosions on the "Nord Streams" in September 2022.

According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany, the man is a professionally trained diver. The investigation believes that he, together with other members of the group, could have participated in dives to install explosive devices on pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm.

He is suspected, in particular, of jointly causing the explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage, and destruction of structures.

Germany already tried to get him from Poland

This is not the first detention of Volodymyr Zh. in this case. German law enforcement officers have been looking for him at least since 2024. At that time, the investigation established that the Ukrainian was in Poland, but he managed to leave for Ukraine before being detained.

In September 2025, the suspect was again detained near Warsaw on the basis of a European warrant from Germany. The Federal Prosecutor's Office planned to bring him to the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Germany after extradition.

However, in October, a Polish court refused to extradite the man and released him from custody. The judge, in particular, proceeded from the fact that in the event of the Ukrainian's involvement, the blowing up of the gas pipelines could be considered a military operation in conditions of war. The court also questioned Germany's jurisdiction over explosions that occurred outside its territorial waters.

Volodymyr Zh. himself denied his involvement in blowing up the gas pipelines. His defense also stated that the man was not in the Baltic Sea during the operation.

Now, after detention in Croatia, the German side has again obtained the opportunity to seek his transfer. In the event of extradition, the suspect must be brought to Germany and presented to the investigating judge of the Federal Court.

Another suspect has already been extradited from Italy

In the same case, another citizen of Ukraine, Serhiy K., is already in custody in Germany. German investigators consider him one of the key participants in the operation and the probable leader of the group that carried out the bombing.

Serhiy K. was detained in August 2025 during a family trip to Italy. He challenged his extradition for several months, but in November, the highest judicial authority of Italy finally allowed the extradition.

On November 27, 2025, the man was handed over to German law enforcement officers and brought to Germany. The next day, the court left him in custody. Kurs Ukraine wrote about his extradition and the decision of the German court.

On July 1, 2026, the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany for the first time brought charges in the case of blowing up the "Nord Streams" - namely against Serhiy K.

According to the German investigation, he was an officer of the Ukrainian army and led a sabotage group, in particular commanded a team on the yacht Andromeda. German law enforcement officers believe that this particular vessel was used to deliver people and explosives to the area of the gas pipelines. Serhiy K. denies the accusations.

What happened to the "Nord Streams"

The explosions on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 occurred on September 26, 2022, near the Danish island of Bornholm. Three of the four strings of the gas pipelines laid on the bottom of the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany were damaged.

According to the German investigation, the group used a yacht, Andromeda, rented in Germany. It was allegedly rented through intermediaries using forged documents. DNA, fingerprints, and traces of explosives were later found on the vessel.

German investigators link several citizens of Ukraine to the group in total. At the same time, the guilt of the detainees and other persons involved must be established by the court.

Ukraine has officially denied state involvement in blowing up the gas pipelines. In July 2026, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine stated that its own investigation did not establish facts that would confirm the involvement of the Ukrainian state in the explosions.

Based on materials from: Tagesschau