November 27, 2025, 4:14 p.mNovember 27, 2025, 4:14 p.m
After more than three months in custody, Italy has extradited the suspected mastermind of the 2022 attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea to Germany. The 49-year-old Ukrainian was handed over to the German police by the Italian authorities. This was confirmed by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe. The attacks made headlines around the world three years ago.
The suspect is led by a helicopter to a motorcade in Karlsruhe.Image: EPA
The Ukrainian Serhij K. spent most of his time in custody in a high-security prison in Ferrara in northern Italy. He tried several times to prevent his extradition by complaining to the Italian judiciary. In the meantime he was also on hunger strike. However, last week Italy’s highest court gave final approval.
The suspect was brought to Germany by helicopter accompanied by German officials. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, he will be brought before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe this Friday, who will probably issue an arrest warrant for him. The Ukrainian will then also be tried in Germany. Hamburg is under discussion.
A Federal Police helicopter lands in Karlsruhe, Germany with the arrested suspect.Image: EPA
Arrested on summer vacation with family
So far, no one has been held accountable for the attacks on the former German-Russian prestige project. With the exception of K., all possible participants are at large. The Ukrainian was caught in August on Italy’s Adriatic coast, where he was spending his summer vacation with his family. Apparently he didn’t expect that he could be arrested there. He is said to have traveled to other European countries several times before without anything happening to him.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office accuses K. of jointly causing an explosive explosion and unconstitutional sabotage. He is said to have coordinated a team of seven suspects who planted explosive devices on the gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022. Several explosions damaged the two pipelines so badly that gas could no longer be passed through. A few months earlier, Russia had begun its war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine.
This photo provided by the Swedish Coast Guard shows a leak from Nord Stream 2 on September 28, 2022. image: keystone
Poland refused to extradite another suspect
Investigators are convinced that the team of seven also included four divers. For the attacks, the troops are said to have rented a sailing yacht called “Andromeda,” which took them from Rostock out to the Baltic Sea. A diver who was allegedly involved was temporarily in custody in Poland. However, the judiciary there refused to extradite him to Germany. The man – also Ukrainian – is now free again. (sda/dpa)