Politics Nord Stream suspect extradited to Germany
After more than three months in custody, Italy has extradited the suspected mastermind of the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in 2022 to Germany. The 49-year-old Ukrainian was handed over to the German police by the Italian authorities. This was confirmed by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe. The attacks made headlines around the world three years ago.
27.11.2025, 14:59
SDA
The Ukrainian Serhij K. spent most of his time in custody in a high-security prison in Ferrara in northern Italy. He repeatedly tried to prevent his extradition by appealing to the Italian courts. In the meantime, he was also on hunger strike. Last week, however, Italy's highest court gave its final approval.
The suspect was brought to Germany by helicopter accompanied by German officials. According to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, he is to be brought before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe this Friday, who is expected to issue the arrest warrant. The Ukrainian will then also be tried in Germany. Hamburg is under discussion.
Arrested while on summer vacation with his family
No one has yet been brought to justice 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 the Italian Adriatic coast, where he was spending his summer vacation with his family. He had obviously not expected to be arrested there. He is said to have previously traveled to other European countries several times without anything happening to him.
The federal prosecutor's office accuses K. of jointly causing an explosive detonation and anti-constitutional 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 to such an extent that gas could no longer be transported. A few months earlier, Russia had launched its war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine.
Poland refuses to extradite another suspect
Investigators are convinced that the team of seven also included four divers. The team is said to have hired a sailing yacht called "Andromeda" for the attacks, which took them out onto the Baltic Sea from Rostock. One diver allegedly involved was temporarily held in custody in Poland. However, the judiciary there refused to extradite him to Germany. The man - also Ukrainian - has since been released.
