Germany has issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national believed to be involved in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The warrant targets Volodymyr S., a former Ukrainian military member who worked as a diving instructor. Authorities identified him through witness testimony and photographs, with the investigation involving German intelligence and counterparts from the Netherlands and other European nations. However, Polish prosecutors have reported that Volodymyr S. has already left Poland, where he was believed to be residing.
The Nord Stream pipelines, vital for delivering Russian gas directly to Europe, were heavily damaged in the underwater explosion, leading to significant geopolitical tensions. Initial Western reports blamed Russia for the attack, but suspicions soon turned toward Ukrainian special forces. According to earlier findings, a group of Ukrainian commandos rented a yacht that sailed through multiple countries, including Germany and Denmark, before allegedly planting explosives at a depth of 260 feet below the Baltic Sea.
Explosive residue was later found aboard the yacht, providing crucial evidence. The Dutch intelligence service was reportedly the first to warn that Ukraine was behind the sabotage, though they claim Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not personally authorize the operation. Instead, the operation was allegedly directed by Valery Zaluzhnyi, the former head of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, suggested that U.S. President Joe Biden might have known about the attack plan before it was executed but allowed it to proceed.
Additionally, the CIA was reportedly aware of the plot as early as six months in advance.
The Nord Stream sabotage has highlighted complex international dynamics and exposed fault lines within Western alliances. As Germany continues its investigation and pursues suspects, questions remain about how much key global players knew and why more wasn’t done to prevent the attack.
