German authorities have arrested another Ukrainian man accused of taking part in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, with prosecutors alleging he was part of a group that planted explosives beneath the Baltic Sea. The suspect, identified under German privacy rules only as Vladimir Z., was detained Wednesday in Pula, Croatia, by local police acting on a European arrest warrant. Germany is seeking his extradition.
Prosecutors allege Vladimir Z. was a trained scuba diver who helped place explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near Denmark’s Bornholm island in September 2022. “Vladimir Z. is a trained scuba diver who was part of a group of individuals who planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines near the [Danish] island of Bornholm in September 2022,” prosecutors said.
The suspect is “strongly suspected of jointly causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of buildings and structures.”
The arrest follows Germany’s prosecution of another Ukrainian national in connection with the blasts. Serhii K., a former Ukrainian army officer, was arrested in Italy in August 2025 before being extradited to Germany three months later. German prosecutors allege he was involved in a group that traveled from Rostock aboard a yacht rented from a German company.
Vladimir Z. was previously arrested in Poland, where authorities declined to extradite him to Germany last year. A spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that the man arrested in Croatia is Volodymyr Zhuravlov, who was previously identified by Polish authorities.
His Polish lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, said Zhuravlov understood that the Polish ruling applied only within Poland. “Volodymyr knew that the ruling applies only on the territory of Poland,” Paprocki told the AP, adding that Zhuravlov’s wife was also surprised by his arrest in Croatia.
German officials welcomed the latest development. “We're simply glad that the federal prosecutor's office is making progress in these investigations, because it's important that the bombing of the pipelines be clarified as well,” justice ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer said.
The Nord Stream pipelines were damaged by underwater explosions on Sept. 26, 2022. Russia has accused the United States of involvement, while Washington has denied the allegation. Ukraine has also denied participating in the sabotage.
Prosecutors allege Vladimir Z. was a trained scuba diver who helped place explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near Denmark’s Bornholm island in September 2022. “Vladimir Z. is a trained scuba diver who was part of a group of individuals who planted explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines near the [Danish] island of Bornholm in September 2022,” prosecutors said.
The suspect is “strongly suspected of jointly causing explosions, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of buildings and structures.”
The arrest follows Germany’s prosecution of another Ukrainian national in connection with the blasts. Serhii K., a former Ukrainian army officer, was arrested in Italy in August 2025 before being extradited to Germany three months later. German prosecutors allege he was involved in a group that traveled from Rostock aboard a yacht rented from a German company.
Vladimir Z. was previously arrested in Poland, where authorities declined to extradite him to Germany last year. A spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that the man arrested in Croatia is Volodymyr Zhuravlov, who was previously identified by Polish authorities.
His Polish lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, said Zhuravlov understood that the Polish ruling applied only within Poland. “Volodymyr knew that the ruling applies only on the territory of Poland,” Paprocki told the AP, adding that Zhuravlov’s wife was also surprised by his arrest in Croatia.
German officials welcomed the latest development. “We're simply glad that the federal prosecutor's office is making progress in these investigations, because it's important that the bombing of the pipelines be clarified as well,” justice ministry spokesperson Nicholas Limmer said.
The Nord Stream pipelines were damaged by underwater explosions on Sept. 26, 2022. Russia has accused the United States of involvement, while Washington has denied the allegation. Ukraine has also denied participating in the sabotage.
