Nord Stream sabotage trial opens against ex-Ukrainian officer

(CN) — German prosecutors on Wednesday set out to convict a former Ukrainian army officer they accuse of overseeing an operation to blow up Russia’s Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, one of Europe’s biggest acts of sabotage since World War II.The politically charged trial opened at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg under tight security. Proceedings are expected to continue through early next year.Since the pipeline project was first conceived, critics have accused Germany of becoming dangerously dependent on Russian gas. Supporters saw the lines as crucial to German prosperity and a way to enhance relations with Russia.Serhii Kuznietsov, a 50-year-old veteran of Ukraine’s Security Service, was arrested in August 2025 in Italy while vacationing with his family.He is the first person to face trial over the explosions. In court documents, he is referred to only as Serhii K. in compliance with Germany’s strict privacy laws.Kuznietsov faces charges of attacking civilian infrastructure, which is a war crime, causing explosions, damaging property and disrupting public services.Prosecutors say Kuznietsov and other Ukrainian military officers plotted to blow up the pipelines after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. They were “acting by order of Ukrainian state agencies,” officials wrote in the indictment.“The objective of the operation was to permanently disrupt gas supplies through the pipelines and prevent Russia from using the revenue from natural gas trade to finance its war effort,” prosecutors wrote.Kuznietsov has denied any wrongdoing. He did not speak during the two-hour hearing.Outside the courthouse, pro-Ukrainian protesters gathered to support him and denounce Russia.His German lawyer, Jes Meyer-Lohkamp, argues there is no conclusive evidence Kuznietsov was involved. Meyer-Lohkamp did not return a message seeking comment.The court must also determine whether the bombing constituted an attack on civilian infrastructure or a military act within the Ukraine war.The distinction could determine the fate of the war crime charge. Kuznietsov’s lawyers argue the pipelines were a legitimate target.In seeking to dismiss the charges Wednesday, defense lawyer Nicola Canestrini called the pipelines “a weapon in the hand of the Russians.”Until now, details about the explosions and investigation have mainly been revealed through media reports. The trial will provide public scrutiny of the evidence behind a sabotage operation with far-reaching repercussions.Some details were made public during proceedings in London after Nord Stream AG, the Swiss company that owns the pipelines, sued its insurer, Lloyd’s Insurance Co.In July, Britain’s High Court of Justice ruled Nord Stream was not entitled to compensation because the pipelines were damaged as a “consequence of war” and therefore not covered.German prosecutors took the lead in investigating the politically sensitive case because the pipeline lands in Lubmin, Germany, after crossing the Baltic Sea.Investigators say a team of seven saboteurs used a rented 50-foot yacht and sailed near the Danish island of Bornholm, where the pipelines run along the seabed.Professional divers recruited for the operation then descended over 230 feet and placed military-grade explosives with timed detonators, investigators say.On Sept. 26, 2022, the explosives were triggered, blowing holes in three of four pipelines, causing the release of up to 485,000 tons of methane.Western officials initially accused Russia of being behind the blasts but later backed away from that assertion.By March 2023, media reports cited European and American sources pinning the attack on a pro-Ukrainian saboteur group. The U.S. said it found no evidence Russia was involved, news reports said.Media reports say investigators found traces of explosives aboard the yacht and tracked the suspects through telephone numbers, traffic and surveillance cameras, vehicle plates and witness accounts.German authorities have issued arrest warrants against three soldiers and four veteran divers.Citing German officials, reports said the attacks were carried out under the direct supervision of Ukraine’s former supreme commander, General Valery Zaluzhny.Zaluzhny and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have denied any involvement.Another suspect, a Ukrainian diver identified as Volodymyr Z., was arrested in Croatia in August. He is fighting extradition to Germany.Despite German investigators’ work, doubts about who blew up the pipelines continue to swirl.“In my view, this theory does not stand up to scrutiny,” said Mykhailo Gonchar, a Ukrainian energy security expert and president of the Kyiv-based Сenter for Global Studies Strategy XXI.He said Russian agents may have been involved. In an email, he theorized that state-owned gas giant Gazprom, which holds a majority stake in Nord Stream, could have wanted to avoid massive penalties for failing to meet contractual obligations.Other researchers have argued American intelligence services were involved. Der Spiegel, a German magazine, reported the CIA approved of Ukraine’s plans to attack the pipeline. The CIA and White House have denied any link to the sabotage operation.Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads