Italian authorities have arrested a Ukrainian man believed to be a key figure in the Nord Stream pipeline blasts that caused significant damage to energy supplies in Europe. Identified only as Serhii K, he was apprehended in Rimini, Italy, following warrants issued by German prosecutors. The pipes were damaged in September 2022, amid escalating energy crises brought on by Russia's war in Ukraine.
Serhii K is accused of collaborating with a team that reportedly chartered a yacht to plant explosives beneath the Baltic Sea's Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which are vital for transporting gas from Russia to Germany. While the first pipeline had been operational, the second was never activated due to Germany halting its approval process just before the full-scale invasion began. Notably, Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attacks.
The mystery surrounding the explosions raised speculation, with various nations pointing fingers amid the ongoing geopolitical conflict. Reports previously indicated that a group of Ukrainian divers might have orchestrated the sabotage by traveling from Germany to the attack site near Denmark's Bornholm island.
As legal proceedings begin, the evidence linking states to the attacks remains unclear, with German prosecutors eager to uncover the truth behind this international energy crisis.
