Nord Stream Sabotage Suspect Faces German War Crime Charge

By Karin Matussek

Oct 18, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A Ukrainian army officer suspected of being a protagonist in the sabotage of Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 stood trial in Hamburg accused of committing a war crime.

The man, identified as 50-year-old Serhii K., was chosen by Ukraine authorities to lead the operation, prosecutor Stefan Schmidt said on the first day of trial. Serhii K. was arrested in Italy a year ago and extradited to Germany.

“He had the mandate and authorization from the Ukraine government,” prosecutor Schmidt said. The crucial pipelines ferried gas from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Lubmin,