Ukrainian ex-officer Serhii Kuznetsov stands trial in Germany over alleged involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. The trial follows accusations that he led a group of Ukrainian agents in the September 2022 attack, which disrupted critical gas infrastructure linking Russia and Germany.
Kuznetsov, a former soldier, is accused of commanding a team of divers and an explosives expert from a yacht, allegedly responsible for the explosions that damaged key pipelines. The trial, which began in October 2026, is the first to address the Nord Stream sabotage, with prosecutors alleging war crimes against civilian infrastructure.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never operational, had been a point of contention in European energy politics. The sabotage has raised concerns about energy security and Germany's reliance on Russian gas, with critics arguing the project undermined European energy independence.