&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Not Russian or Western sabotage? Ukrainian man arrested in Italy over Nord Stream pipeline blasts")
Italian police have detained a Ukrainian man suspected of playing a central role in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, German prosecutors confirmed. The blasts, which happened nearly three years ago, tore through Nord Stream 1 and 2 – major pipelines built to carry Russian gas into Europe. At the time, the explosions sent gas bubbling into the Baltic Sea and triggered an international hunt to find who was behind the attack.
What happened to the Nord Stream pipelines?
The September 2022 explosions badly damaged both pipelines near Bornholm Island in Denmark. Though neither was actively supplying gas to Europe at the time, they still contained gas under pressure, making the damage a symbolic and strategic escalation in the Ukraine war. Seen as sabotage by both Russia and the West, the incident deepened Europe’s energy crisis and fuelled political tensions across the continent. Yet until now, no one had ever been officially held responsible.
Who is the suspect?
The arrested man has been named only as Serhii K, in line with German privacy laws. Prosecutors say he was part of a team that planted explosives on the pipelines. Investigators believe the group set sail from Rostock, a port city in north-eastern Germany, using a yacht rented from a German company. The rental was reportedly arranged with forged documents and middlemen to conceal their identities. The suspect is expected to be transferred to Germany and brought before a judge.
Trending Stories
)
The Early Spring is proof not everyone can talk about their real feelings, and it is perfectly OK
)
UN votes to ‘correct the map’ as India backs fairer world view
)
Nigerian Navy discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen, illegally refined products as it intensifies anti-crude oil theft operations
)
Who is Aditi Paudel? 17-year-old becomes Japan's first literacy ambassador
)
Bengaluru: Officials find 40 kg expired chilli at chairman's club
)
Jaishankar rejects trade link to ending Ukraine war
)
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill three, injure 23 despite truce
)
Alpine glacier was covered with sheep wool sheets to prevent melting. It worked
)
South Korea mulls deploying military assets to Strait of Hormuz
)
World's fifth-largest economy, British army can't afford to train
)
Breaking | Vance takes the podium: First White House briefing since Leavitt's exit
)
Taiwan raises 'concerns' over China's missile test
)
BRICS 2026: $1 trillion sovereign capital set to converge in Delhi for first iBRICS Summit
)
What is Iran's Pickaxe Mountain that Trump has again threatened to bomb?
)
UN votes to correct world map that visually shrank Africa for 450 years
)
Former NewJeans member Danielle launches YouTube channel, hints at new solo journey
)
Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy creates history with 350 not out in South Africa
)
Brendan Fraser’s transformation fuels The Mummy 4 excitement as fans welcome back Rick O’Connell
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Krishna Janmashtami 2026: From Dhaniya Panjiri to Makhana Kheer- 5 best sweet dishes perfect for celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth
)
Donald Trump plans to travel to Ireland on Qatari-donated jet amid security concerns
)
Nazi-looted art to return to Jewish heirs
)
Eight killed in Kerala’s Thrissur after car rams into lorry parked on highway
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets use bulky, low-pressure tyres compared to US jets
)
FBI-wanted fraud accused arrested in Jalandhar over $600,000 scam
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US tanks weigh over 20 tons more than Russian tanks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (September 4, 2026): GDN, Dhamaal 4, Jagamae Sangeetham- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Killing the Himalayas slowly: Human urine is melting a glacier on Mount Everest
Why does this matter now?
The Nord Stream blasts have long been a mystery, with competing narratives from Moscow, Kyiv and Western capitals about who stood to benefit. The arrest marks the first significant breakthrough in linking an individual directly to the sabotage. For Europe, the case goes beyond accountability. The destruction of Nord Stream highlighted the fragility of critical infrastructure and the geopolitical stakes of the war in Ukraine.
