Ukrainian arrested for coordinating Nord Stream pipeline explosions

In 2022, significant explosions occurred that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which transport natural gas from Russia to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. These explosions provoked widespread speculation and political tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, particularly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that commenced in February of the same year. Both Ukraine and Russia have consistently denied any involvement in the sabotage, even as Western governments initially accused Russia of orchestrating the attacks. The pipelines, primarily owned by Russia's Gazprom, faced scrutiny for contributing to European dependency on Russian gas. Following the explosions, investigations revealed that a group allegedly used a sailing yacht to carry out the attacks, specifically near the Danish island of Bornholm. On August 21, 2025, it was reported that a Ukrainian national, identified as Serhii Kuznietsov, had been arrested by Italian police in Rimini, Italy. German prosecutors indicated that Kuznietsov is believed to be part of the group that coordinated the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines. He and accomplices reportedly used the yacht