Understand
Ukrainian man goes on trial in Germany accused of blowing up Nord Stream pipelines
Overview
A 50-year-old Ukrainian man, Serhii Kuznetsov, has gone on trial in Hamburg, Germany, accused of playing a leading role in blowing up Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. Prosecutors allege the sabotage constituted a war crime involving an attack on civilian infrastructure by military means on the orders of Ukrainian state agencies. Kuznetsov denies the charges, and his defence team has called for the dismissal of the case, arguing that the evidence is purely circumstantial and that his status as a soldier prevents him from mounting a full defence due to secrecy obligations.
Key points
- Serhii Kuznetsov became the first suspect to go on trial in Hamburg on Wednesday for the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
- German prosecutors allege that Kuznetsov, a serving Ukrainian army officer at the time, led a team of saboteurs on orders from Ukrainian state agencies.
- The defence has called for the case to be dismissed, arguing prosecutors rely entirely on circumstantial evidence and have found no DNA, fingerprints, or witnesses.
- Kuznetsov was extradited to Germany late last year after being arrested in Italy following the issuance of a European arrest warrant.
- A second suspect faces extradition from Croatia, while another man was previously released by a Polish court that ruled the pipeline attack was justified.