First Nord Stream sabotage trial begins in Germany
A Ukrainian man went on trial in Hamburg on Wednesday over the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines. The case marks the first judicial proceeding directly related to the explosions that damaged the pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
German prosecutors allege that the defendant, Serhii K., led a team that included divers and explosives specialists and helped plan and carry out the sabotage operation.
On September 26, 2022, explosions damaged three of the four Nord Stream pipeline strings near Denmark and Sweden, causing major gas leaks. Investigators believe the incident was a deliberate act of sabotage.
Serhii K. declined to testify after prosecutors read out the indictment. His defense said there was no conclusive evidence linking him to the attack and argued that one of the central legal questions is whether the pipelines should be considered civilian energy infrastructure or a military target.
The court has scheduled 16 hearings through December 17, with additional sessions expected in January and February next year.
Serhii K. was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and later extradited to Germany. German federal prosecutors indicted him in July this year.
According to CCTV+, investigators are also relying on evidence from his mobile phone and intercepted conversations which prosecutors say may link him to the sabotage.
