# Nord Stream sabotage investigations continue > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/russian-covert-influence-in-germany > Updated: 2026-09-12T18:49:51.000Z. Sources: 291. Developments: 27. German prosecutors have deepened the probe into the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. After initially charging former SBU officer Sergei Kuznetsov in July 2025, German authorities filed a formal indictment on 21 July 2026. The charge alleges that Kuznetsov organised a team of Ukrainian nationals, chartered the yacht Andromeda and directed divers who placed explosives near the Danish island of Bornholm. The indictment relies on intercepted communications, mobile-phone data and a monitored call with Kuznetsov’s wife in which he reportedly said he acted under a Ukrainian intelligence network and felt abandoned by Kyiv. Investigators also name a commander known as “Roman”, identified as intelligence officer Roman Chervinsky, as part of the operative chain. A second indictment on 23 July 2026 framed the act as a war crime, asserting that the explosions were carried out under instructions from Ukrainian state bodies and alleging damage to three of four pipelines. While Ukraine’s Prosecutor General has stated there is no indication that state bodies or officials participated, the Kremlin has called the indictment proof of a “terrorist act.” In August 2026, the investigation led to several arrests, including Ukrainian diving instructor Volodymyr Zhuravlyov and Vladimir Z. in Croatia, and Sergii K. in Italy, who was subsequently extradited to Germany. In September 2026, investigators identified a group of seven Ukrainian nationals as primary suspects. Following these developments, the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg scheduled a trial to begin on 14 October 2026. The proceedings will focus on Serhii K., who faces charges including war crimes and the destruction of public infrastructure. Hearings are expected to continue through February 2027. ## Claims - In July, German prosecutors charged another Ukrainian, former military officer Serhii K., for involvement in the sabotage. (disputed by 20 sources) - A first suspect, Serhii K., was arrested in Italy in August 2025. (disputed by 2 sources) - Vladimir Z. is a trained diver suspected of participating in the diversions required to plant explosives. (corroborated by 37 sources) - Vladimir Z. is suspected of complicity in causing explosions, unconstitutional sabotage, and the destruction of buildings and objects. (corroborated by 37 sources) - Vladimir Z. was arrested in Pula, Croatia, under a European arrest warrant and will be extradited to Germany. (corroborated by 33 sources) - German federal prosecutors announced the arrest in Croatia of a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage. (corroborated by 32 sources) - Explosives were placed on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm. (corroborated by 23 sources) - The group allegedly used a sailboat from Rostock, Germany, rented via a German company using false identities. (corroborated by 22 sources) - A court in Pula, Croatia, ordered pretrial detention for Wolodymyr Z. (corroborated by 20 sources) - Wolodymyr Zhuravlyov was arrested in Croatia while working as an advisor on the set of the Hollywood film ‘Snake Island’. (corroborated by 19 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-12: Germany indicts former Ukrainian official in Nord Stream sabotage case German prosecutors have indicted a former Ukrainian military official for allegedly coordinating the 2022 Nord Stream 1 pipeline sabotage using the yacht Andromeda. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-indicts-former-ukrainian-official-in-nord-stream-sabotage-case ### 2026-09-02: Nord Stream sabotage trial to begin in Hamburg The trial for the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage begins October 14 in Hamburg, focusing on former Ukrainian officer Serhii K. on charges including war crimes. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-court-begins-trial-over-20-million-euro-diesel-fraud ### 2026-09-01: Nord Stream sabotage investigation identifies Ukrainian suspects German investigators have identified a group of seven Ukrainians as suspects in the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage, while Vladimir Putin dismissed accusations of Russian involvement as “nonsense.” 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nord-stream-sabotage-investigation-identifies-ukrainian-suspects ### 2026-08-27: Russian Ambassador criticizes German rhetoric and Nord Stream sabotage claims Russian Ambassador Sergei Nechaev criticized anti-Russian rhetoric in Germany and claimed Ukrainian state structures were responsible for the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russian-ambassador-criticizes-german-rhetoric-and-nord-stream-sabotage-claims ### 2026-08-26: Nord Stream investigation leads to arrest of Ukrainian national Ukrainian national Vladimir Z. has been arrested in Croatia in connection with the Nord Stream sabotage, while President Zelenskyy denies any Ukrainian state involvement in the 2022 pipeline attacks. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nord-stream-investigation-leads-to-arrest-of-ukrainian-national-in-croatia ### 2026-08-23: Germany links Ukrainian nationals to Nord Stream pipeline sabotage German prosecutors have linked Ukrainian nationals, including a former army officer, to the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, with a criminal trial set to begin in Hamburg this October. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-links-ukrainian-nationals-to-nord-stream-pipeline-sabotage ### 2026-08-23: Vladimir Putin responds to Donald Tusk on Nord Stream Vladimir Putin criticized Donald Tusk's stance on the Nord Stream sabotage, citing economic motives, while the suspect in the pipeline explosions, Volodymyr Zhuravlov, was detained in Croatia. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vladimir-putin-responds-to-donald-tusk-on-nord-stream ### 2026-08-23: Ukraine denies involvement in Nord Stream sabotage amid new arrests President Zelenskyy denies Ukraine's involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage, following the arrest of a Ukrainian national in Croatia who reportedly worked as a consultant on a film about the incident. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zelenskyy-denies-ukraines-involvement-in-nord-stream-sabotage ### 2026-08-21: Russia criticizes Donald Tusk over Nord Stream sabotage comments Russia has criticized Polish PM Donald Tusk for suggesting Germany should not prosecute suspects in the Nord Stream sabotage, following the detention of a Ukrainian national in Croatia. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kremlin-criticizes-donald-tusk-over-nord-stream-sabotage-investigation ### 2026-08-21: Volodymyr Zhuravlyov arrested in Croatia over Nord Stream sabotage Ukrainian diver Volodymyr Zhuravlyov was arrested in Croatia on a German warrant for his alleged role in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage while working on a Hollywood film set. 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukrainian-suspect-arrested-in-croatia-over-nord-stream-sabotage-1 ### 2026-08-19: Ukrainian suspect arrested in Croatia for Nord Stream sabotage A Ukrainian national, Vladimir Z., has been arrested in Croatia on a European arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. 126 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vladimir-z-arrested-in-croatia-for-nord-stream-sabotage ### 2026-07-23: German prosecutors charge Ukrainian Serguei Kuznetsov with Nord Stream sabotage German prosecutors have charged Ukrainian Serguei Kuznetsov, alleged SBU operative, with war‑crime sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, saying he acted on Ukrainian state orders. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-prosecutors-charge-ukrainian-serguei-kuznetsov-with-nord-stream-sabotage ### 2026-07-21: German Prosecutors Charge Ukrainian ex‑SBU officer Sergei Kuznetsov in Nord Stream sabotage German prosecutors accuse former Ukrainian SBU officer Sergei Kuznetsov of aiding the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, citing phone intercepts and his role on the yacht Andromeda; Ukraine denies involvement. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukrainian-saboteur-sergei-kuznetsov-charged-over-nord-stream-pipeline-attack ### 2026-07-16: German probe of Nord Stream sabotage targets yacht Andromeda, Ukrainian diver German prosecutors investigating the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage have linked the *Andromeda* yacht and Ukrainian diver Volodymyr Z. to the blasts that caused a massive methane leak and halted the pipelines. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-probe-of-nord-stream-sabotage-targets-yacht-andromeda-ukrainian-diver ### 2026-07-09: Serbia detains two suspected Russian agents at Hungary border Serbian courts detained two men on the Serbia‑Hungary border, suspected Russian agents linked to a foiled German sabotage plot, after German intelligence tipped off authorities. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbian-opposition-psg-demands-clarification-on-alleged-arrest-of-russian-agents-at-border ### 2026-07-09: Ukraine prosecutor denies Kyiv involvement in Nord Stream pipeline blasts Ukraine’s Prosecutor General says no evidence links Kyiv to the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blasts and proposes a joint probe with Germany; Germany has charged a former Ukrainian officer, who denies involvement. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukraine-prosecutor-denies-kyiv-involvement-in-nord-stream-pipeline-blasts ### 2026-07-07: Russian agents arrested on Serbia‑Hungary border for planned bomb attack in Germany German and Serbian authorities arrested two Russian “single‑use agents” at the Serbia‑Hungary border in June, stopping a bomb plot targeting a German defence firm supporting Ukraine. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-thwarts-russian-sabotage-plot-targeting-defense-site-linked-to-ukraine ### 2026-07-07: Germany's Federal LNG Deal with Russian Ally Sparks Political Controversy Germany’s federal LNG deal with a Putin confidant raises political risk, while China’s oil, dual‑use goods and drone training for Russia deepen European security concerns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germanys-federal-lng-deal-with-russian-ally-sparks-political-controversy ### 2026-07-06: Ukraine intelligence obtains Russian weapons data as German tools continue feeding Russian defence German tools still reach Russian defence factories via subsidiaries, while Ukrainian intelligence seized Russian documents showing heavy reliance on Chinese components for weapons and sanctions‑evasion tactics. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukraine-intelligence-obtains-russian-weapons-data-as-german-tools-continue-feeding-russian-defence ### 2026-07-03: German Prosecutors Accuse Ukraine of Ordering Nord Stream Sabotage German prosecutors charge a former Ukrainian officer with ordering the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, citing war‑crime allegations; Russia cites it in EU‑Ukraine talks, while Kyiv says evidence is lacking. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-prosecutors-accuse-ukraine-of-ordering-nord-stream-sabotage ### 2026-07-01: German prosecutors charge Ukrainian ex-officer with Nord Stream sabotage German prosecutors have charged a Ukrainian ex‑army officer, Serhii K., with war crimes for the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage, alleging he acted on Ukrainian state orders; he was arrested in Italy and extradited to 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-courts-press-charges-against-russialinked-sabotage-suspects-in-nord-stream-and-warsaw-mall- ### 2026-06-30: German prosecutors charge Ukrainian man for Nord Stream sabotage German prosecutors charged Ukrainian citizen Serhii K for coordinating the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, alleging war‑crime offences after his 2025 arrest in Italy and extradition to Germany. 59 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-prosecutors-charge-ukrainian-citizen-with-leading-nord-stream-sabotage ### 2026-06-24: German prosecutors raid sites over Gazprom Germania sabotage probe German prosecutors raided Berlin and Frankfurt sites, investigating a Russian suspect’s role in the unlawful sale and liquidation of Gazprom Germania, which could have threatened Germany’s gas supply. No arrest 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-prosecutor-raids-over-gazprom-germania-sabotage-probe ### 2026-06-23: German and Austrian security services tighten safeguards against Russian spy activity Germany's BND and Austria's Bundesheer report rising Russian espionage, adding security measures after incidents like base photo‑shooting, drone overflights and a covert camera at a key railway hub. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-and-austrian-security-services-tighten-safeguards-against-russian-spy-activity ### 2026-06-16: German prosecutors warn Russia is using cheap auxiliary spies to undermine Ukraine support German prosecutors say Russia uses cheap auxiliary spies in Germany to gather intelligence and prepare sabotage against Ukraine support, with several arrests and rising investigations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-prosecutors-warn-russia-is-using-cheap-auxiliary-spies-to-undermine-ukraine-support ### 2026-06-16: German Prosecutor's Office Warns of Russian Spy Network Targeting Ukraine Support German prosecutors say Russian intelligence uses cheap auxiliary agents in Germany to gather intel and plan sabotage against German support for Ukraine, with multiple arrests and 20 cases ongoing. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-prosecutors-office-warns-of-russian-spy-network-targeting-ukraine-support ### 2026-05-22: Russia expands covert influence operations targeting Germany Russia's sanctioned Social Design Agency is broadening covert influence efforts in Germany, including online campaigns, false‑flag actions, and a pro‑Russian Wikipedia clone. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-expands-covert-influence-operations-targeting-germany --- Cite as: Nord Stream sabotage investigations continue. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/russian-covert-influence-in-germany