German prosecutors charge Ukrainian with sabotage of Nord Stream
Germany's Federal Prosecutor has brought charges against a Ukrainian citizen named Sergiy K., who allegedly led the group responsible for explosions at the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022.
German prosecutors charge Ukrainian with sabotage of Nord Stream
Germany's Federal Prosecutor has filed charges against a Ukrainian national allegedly responsible for leading a group behind detonations at the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. The suspect, identified by media as Sergiy K., has been charged with attacks on civilian energy infrastructure, causing explosions and destruction of objects, according to his defence lawyers speaking to French news agency AFP.
This is the first official charge related to the September 2022 attacks, in which explosives severely damaged the pipelines connecting Russia to Europe. According to German media reports, the suspect was allegedly the commander of a unit that carried out the sabotage operation. Investigators suspect he piloted a sailing boat used to execute the operation.
Sergiy K. was arrested in Italy last August and extradited to Germany in November. He is currently being held in pre-trial detention in Hamburg, where the trial will also take place. German prosecutors stated at the time of his arrest that he had used forged identity documents to charter a boat that departed from the German city of Rostock.
However, the suspect denies any involvement in the act. He claims he was in Ukraine at the time of the sabotage, where he served as a commander in the Ukrainian armed forces until 2023.
According to reports from German broadcaster ARD, investigators found traces of military explosives on board the boat. During the investigation, seven suspects were identified, one of whom was later killed fighting against Russia.
The attacks occurred during the European energy crisis, seven months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. Kyiv blamed Russia for the incident, whilst Moscow repeatedly accused the West. Following the explosions, the pipelines were no longer operational.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined to comment on the charges. At a press conference in Dublin, he stated he did not know all the details. "When we receive further details, we will certainly be able to comment," he said according to German news agency dpa, adding that it was too early to say anything at this point.
Source: 24ur.com
Source: 24ur