Germany has issued a European arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor, identified only as Volodymyr Z, in connection with the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
German authorities suspect that Volodymyr Z was part of a team that planted explosive devices on the pipelines in September 2022, which transported natural gas from Russia to Germany. German law prevents the publication of the suspect’s full name.
Recent reports indicate that Volodymyr Z was living in Poland, according to Suddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit newspapers, and the ARD public broadcaster. The Polish prosecutor’s office confirmed that it had received the German arrest warrant in June but noted that the suspect had already left for Ukraine last month. They also mentioned that the authorities could not prevent his departure due to a lack of timely information.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently denied any involvement of Ukraine in the Nord Stream sabotage, which had a significant impact on Russian gas exports to the European Union, affecting Moscow’s energy revenues.
In addition to Volodymyr Z, Germany’s investigation has identified another man and a woman, also Ukrainian diving instructors, who are under suspicion but have not yet been issued arrest warrants.
