Germany Says Second Ukrainian Suspect in Nord Stream Case Arrested in Croatia
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- German prosecutors say Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zhuravliov was arrested in the Croatian city of Pula on August 19 in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions.
- Germany accuses him of being part of a group that allegedly planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
- The arrest was carried out under a European arrest warrant issued by Germany in June 2024.
- Zhuravliov was previously detained in Poland in 2025, but a Polish court refused Germany’s extradition request and released him.
- Another Ukrainian suspect, Serhii Kuznetsov, is already in German custody and was formally charged in July 2026.
- Zhuravliov’s extradition from Croatia could bring him before Germany’s Federal Court of Justice.
German prosecutors say Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zhuravliov has been arrested in Croatia in connection with the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The arrest is the latest development in Germany’s investigation, which alleges that a group of Ukrainian citizens participated in placing explosives on the pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Ukrainian Suspect Arrested in Croatia
German prosecutors announced on August 19 that Croatian authorities had arrested a Ukrainian citizen identified as Vladimir Z., whom German investigators believe to be Volodymyr Zhuravliov.
The arrest took place in Pula, Croatia, following a German European arrest warrant.
German authorities say there are substantial grounds for suspecting him of jointly organizing the explosions, sabotage and destruction of infrastructure.
Germany Wants His Extradition
According to the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Zhuravliov is expected to face an investigating judge of Germany’s Federal Court of Justice after his extradition from Croatia.
The Croatian detention therefore represents the beginning of another extradition process rather than the start of a trial.
The German investigation will ultimately have to establish whether the allegations can be proven in court.
He Was Previously Detained in Poland
This is not the first time Zhuravliov has been detained in connection with the case.
Polish authorities arrested him in September 2025 after Germany issued its European arrest warrant.
However, a Polish court subsequently refused to extradite him to Germany and lifted his temporary detention.
The Polish decision became politically significant because senior Polish officials welcomed the court’s refusal to transfer the Ukrainian suspect.
What Germany Alleges
German investigators believe Zhuravliov was part of a group involved in the Nord Stream operation.
According to prosecutors, the group allegedly rented a sailing yacht from the German port of Rostock and used it in connection with the operation in the Baltic Sea.
The alleged objective was to place explosives near the Nord Stream pipelines close to the Danish island of Bornholm.
These are allegations, and Zhuravliov has previously denied involvement.
The 2022 Nord Stream Explosions
The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were damaged by explosions on September 26, 2022.
The pipelines run under the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany.
Three of the four pipeline lines were destroyed, causing major gas leaks and effectively eliminating the infrastructure’s ability to transport Russian gas to Germany.
The explosions became one of the most consequential and controversial acts of infrastructure sabotage in Europe in recent decades.
Investigations Produced Different Outcomes
Germany, Denmark and Sweden all investigated the explosions.
Swedish and Danish authorities eventually closed their investigations without identifying suspects, while German prosecutors continued pursuing their own case.
Germany subsequently identified several Ukrainian citizens whom it suspected of involvement.
The investigation has now resulted in arrests in several European countries.
A Second Ukrainian Suspect Is Already in Germany
Zhuravliov is not the only Ukrainian citizen facing German allegations.
Serhii Kuznetsov was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and later extradited to Germany.
German prosecutors formally charged him in July 2026.
German investigators allege that Kuznetsov played a leading role in the group involved in the operation.
He denies the allegations.
Kuznetsov’s Trial Is Approaching
The German proceedings against Kuznetsov have already advanced further than those involving Zhuravliov.
A Hamburg court has provisionally scheduled the start of Kuznetsov’s trial for October 26, 2026.
The case could therefore provide the first major courtroom examination of Germany’s evidence concerning the alleged Nord Stream operation.
The proceedings may also generate additional information about the identities and alleged roles of other suspects.
Ukraine Has Denied State Involvement
The allegations involving individual Ukrainian citizens do not establish that the Ukrainian government or Ukrainian state institutions ordered the Nord Stream explosions.
Ukraine has repeatedly denied involvement in the sabotage.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said in July 2026 that investigators had found no evidence linking Ukrainian state institutions or officials to the explosions.
That distinction remains important as the German criminal investigation continues.
The Polish Court Raised Questions
When Poland rejected Germany’s extradition request for Zhuravliov in 2025, the court said the German side had provided only general information and insufficient evidence for the purposes of the extradition proceedings.
The Polish court also considered the wider context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Its decision did not constitute a ruling that Zhuravliov was innocent of the alleged Nord Stream acts.
Instead, it concerned whether the requirements for executing the European arrest warrant had been met.
Croatia Now Faces the Extradition Question
The new arrest means Croatian authorities will now have to handle the German request according to the applicable European legal procedures.
The outcome could determine whether Zhuravliov is transferred to Germany.
If extradited, he would face judicial proceedings in Germany rather than being automatically convicted of any offense.
Why the Case Matters
The Nord Stream investigation has significant implications beyond the individuals involved.
The pipelines were major pieces of European energy infrastructure and had been central to Germany’s dependence on Russian natural gas.
Their destruction dramatically changed the European energy landscape.
Determining who planned and carried out the attack therefore remains an important political and security issue.
The Case Has a Ukrainian Dimension
The identification of Ukrainian suspects has added another layer of complexity to the investigation.
Germany’s allegations concern individual Ukrainians, while Kyiv has denied that the Ukrainian state was involved.
The case therefore needs to be distinguished from claims about official Ukrainian responsibility.
A criminal investigation into individual suspects and proof of state involvement are two different questions.
Russia Has Long Demanded Answers
Russia has repeatedly demanded international investigations into the Nord Stream explosions and has accused Western countries of involvement.
Moscow has also denied responsibility for the destruction of the pipelines.
The competing accusations have made the case highly politically sensitive.
A German court process could eventually provide more evidence about what happened and who was responsible.
The Evidence Will Be Tested in Court
The arrest itself does not establish guilt.
German prosecutors must still prove the allegations against each defendant according to the applicable legal standards.
Evidence could include travel records, communications, financial transactions, forensic findings and information about the yacht allegedly used in the operation.
Much of that evidence has not been made public.
The Investigation Is Still Developing
The arrest in Croatia shows that the Nord Stream case remains active nearly four years after the explosions.
European arrest warrants can remain effective across borders even when an earlier attempt to secure extradition fails.
Zhuravliov’s second detention demonstrates how suspects can face renewed legal proceedings when they travel to another European country.
A Potentially Important Next Stage
If Croatia extradites Zhuravliov, German investigators will have another suspect available for questioning and prosecution.
His case could potentially reveal additional information about the alleged group and its activities.
However, it remains unclear what evidence Germany has against him and how he will respond to the allegations.
What Happens Next
The immediate issue is Zhuravliov’s extradition proceedings in Croatia.
If he is transferred to Germany, he will appear before the Federal Court of Justice for further judicial proceedings.
Meanwhile, the case against Serhii Kuznetsov is moving toward a trial in Hamburg.
The two proceedings could become important tests of Germany’s allegations concerning the Nord Stream explosions.
The arrest of Volodymyr Zhuravliov in Croatia marks another significant development in Germany’s investigation into the Nord Stream explosions. While German prosecutors accuse him of participating in the alleged sabotage operation, the accusations have not yet been proven in court, and Ukraine has denied involvement by its state institutions. His potential extradition to Germany, together with the upcoming proceedings against Serhii Kuznetsov, could provide further insight into one of Europe’s most controversial infrastructure attacks.
