Ukrainian Suspect in Nord Stream Attack to be Extradited

Thu Nov 20 2025 02:24:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Italy's high court has approved the extradition of Ukrainian suspect Serhiy Kuznetsov to Germany for his alleged role in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions.

Italy has ruled to extradite Serhiy Kuznetsov, a Ukrainian accused of coordinating the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, to Germany to face anti-constitutional sabotage charges. The case has raised tensions between Ukraine and Germany, the latter being a major supporter of Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kuznetsov's defense claims he is a scapegoat for the Ukrainian government, which has not confirmed his military involvement at the time of the blasts.

Italy's top appeals court has ruled that a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany should be extradited to Berlin.

There, former Ukrainian military officer Serhiy Kuznetsov will face a charge of anti-constitutional sabotage. He is due to be removed from Italy under German police escort in the next few days.

Prosecutors believe Mr Kuznetsov coordinated and led a group that planted explosives on the pipes deep beneath the Baltic Sea in 2022, though they have not disclosed any evidence.

The case has serious implications for relations between Ukraine and Germany, which is the biggest source of military aid for Kyiv in Europe.

Mr Kuznetsov's lawyer said his client feels like a scapegoat and is very sad that his government has not spoken out in his defense. If he carried out the attack, then he did so because he was ordered to do so because he was for sure a captain of the Ukrainian army, the lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, stated after the ruling.

Mr Kuznetsov was arrested in northern Italy in late August while vacationing with his family. His passport details were entered online at check-in which led to police intervention.

A month later, another Ukrainian suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, was detained in Poland but was released by a court citing self-defense against Russia's invasion as the reason for his actions.

Kuznetsov's case highlights the complexities of international law and the political intricacies involved in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.