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Nord Stream trial: Former Ukrainian Special Forces soldier to face trial in Germany over pipeline sabotage
Überblick
A former Ukrainian Special Forces soldier, identified as Serhii K, is set to go on trial in Hamburg, Germany, charged with causing an explosion and a war crime for allegedly commanding the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. German investigators concluded through forensic evidence, including DNA left on a rented yacht, that a team of deep-sea divers carried out the attack. Both Serhii K and the Ukrainian government have denied involvement, while another suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, is currently fighting extradition from Croatia.
Wichtige Punkte
- Serhii K is accused of commanding the September 2022 explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea.
- He faces charges in Hamburg of causing an explosion and a war crime by attacking civilian infrastructure, allegedly acting on behalf of Ukrainian state agencies.
- German investigators used forensic evidence, including DNA left on a rented yacht named Andromeda, to track the suspects.
- Serhii K was arrested at a glamping resort near Italy's Adriatic coast after being flagged on his passport and was subsequently extradited to Germany.
- A second suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, is currently contesting extradition from Croatia after a previous attempt in Poland was refused.
- Both Ukraine and the accused have denied any involvement in the pipeline explosions.