German federal prosecutors announced Thursday they have filed charges against a former Ukrainian army officer in connection with the undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. The suspect, identified as Serhii K. in accordance with German privacy laws, faces charges including causing an explosion, property damage, and disrupting public services. Prosecutors also stated he is an "accomplice to war crimes" due to the attack on civilian infrastructure.
The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which had been a primary conduit for Russian natural gas to Germany until supplies were cut by Russia in August 2022. Nord Stream 2, a parallel pipeline, was also damaged and never entered service. These incidents occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine, as European nations sought to reduce their reliance on Russian energy following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
German prosecutors believe the plot's objective was to permanently halt gas deliveries through the pipelines, thereby preventing Russia from financing its military activities through natural gas revenue. The suspect was apprehended in August in an Italian village while staying with his family and was extradited to Germany in November.
According to investigators, Serhii K. and others allegedly chartered a yacht from the German port of Rostock. The hiring process reportedly involved the use of forged identification documents and intermediaries. While the investigation is ongoing, Russia has previously accused the United States of orchestrating the explosions, a claim Washington has denied. The Nord Stream pipelines themselves had been a point of contention for the U.S. and some allies, who expressed concerns about Europe's growing dependence on Russian gas.