Ukrainian man arrested in Croatia over Nord Stream pipeline blasts

What the report says

A Ukrainian man has been arrested in Croatia on suspicion of involvement in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany, according to BBC World News. German prosecutors say he was one of the scuba divers who helped place explosives on the undersea pipelines after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They are seeking his extradition to Germany, where he would face allegations of causing explosions and sabotage.

BBC World News reported that this is the second arrest connected to the case. Prosecutors identified the suspect only as a trained diver, Vladimir Z, though he is understood to be Volodymyr Zhuravlyov. A separate suspect, former Ukrainian military officer Serhiy Kuznetsov, was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and later extradited to Germany, where he is expected to stand trial. Kuznetsov has denied responsibility.

The Nord Stream blasts ruptured three of the four pipelines in September 2022 and sharply worsened tensions around a project that had long been controversial in Europe. The damage cut a major energy route between Russia and Germany and initially prompted suspicion of Russian involvement before attention turned toward possible Ukrainian links. Kyiv has repeatedly denied any role. The case continues to carry political weight because of Germany’s support for Ukraine and long-running disputes in Europe over dependence on Russian gas.