Alleged war crimes: Suspected Nord Stream saboteur charged This is the first indictment in the Nord Stream case. The Federal Prosecutor's Office is accusing a Ukrainian of war crimes. Copyright AP Photo By Franziska Müller First published on 01/07/2026 - 17:35 CEST Split Comments Add Euronews to Go
A Ukrainian man accused of playing a leading role in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage has become the first person to face war crimes charges in connection with the attacks, according to German media reports.
Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office has reportedly upgraded the charges against Ukrainian national Serhiy K., who was already accused of unconstitutional sabotage and causing an explosion. Investigators now allege that the attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, a claim that could qualify the incident as a war crime under international criminal law. The suspect has denied all allegations against him.
Authorities believe Serhiy K. was one of the key organizers behind the explosions that severely damaged three of the four Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea in September 2022. The pipelines, which connect Russia's Vyborg with Lubmin near Greifswald in Germany, were heavily damaged in a series of underwater blasts that disrupted a major energy route to Europe.
According to reports from Der Spiegel and ARD, investigators claim the suspect led the sabotage team and commanded the sailing yacht Andromeda, which prosecutors believe was used to carry out the operation. The expanded indictment also includes charges of causing explosions and destroying critical infrastructure, with the case expected to be heard in Hamburg.
Serhiy K. was arrested in Italy earlier this year after German authorities issued a European arrest warrant. He was reportedly on vacation with his family along the Adriatic coast when he was taken into custody. Since then, he has remained in a high-security prison in Italy while legal proceedings continue. The case marks the first formal indictment related to the Nord Stream sabotage and represents a significant milestone in one of Europe's most closely watched investigations.