A Ukrainian man has been indicted in Germany in connection with the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines, according to his legal representation and federal prosecutors.
The Berlin law firm Menaker, which represents the accused, confirmed that an indictment was served on Wednesday, though details of the specific charges were not immediately disclosed.
Federal prosecutors confirmed to AFP that a man had been charged in relation to the incident. German public broadcaster DW, citing media reports, stated that the suspect is accused of leading a team of seven accomplices in an operation to destroy three of the four Nord Stream gas pipelines. The charges also include attacking civil energy infrastructure, causing an explosion, and destroying infrastructure.
The September 26, 2022, attacks released significant amounts of methane into the Baltic Sea and rendered the multi-billion dollar pipeline infrastructure inoperable. The Nord Stream 1 pipelines had supplied a steady flow of gas from Russia to Germany, while Nord Stream 2, though never operational, was completed prior to the incident.
Germany had canceled the approval process for Nord Stream 2 shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Months later, Russia cited equipment issues as the reason for shutting down Nord Stream 1.
Following the explosions, a second Ukrainian suspect was arrested in Poland a month after the first man's detention, based on a German arrest warrant.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the case, which could have significant implications for its relationship with Germany.