A former Ukrainian army officer is on trial in Germany as of October 14, 2026, for his alleged involvement in undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany four years ago. The suspect, identified in court only as Serhii K. due to German privacy laws, faces multiple charges including causing an explosion, damaging property, disrupting public service, and being an accomplice to war crimes by attacking civilian infrastructure, according to prosecutors.
The explosions occurred on September 26, 2022, and were initially attributed to Moscow by international observers. However, investigations have shifted to consider the involvement of Ukrainian state security agencies, despite Ukraine's close alliance with Germany. The trial is taking place under strict security measures at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg.
Prosecutors allege that the suspect was the ringleader of the attack, which aimed to disrupt gas deliveries and prevent Russia from using revenue to fund military operations. The defendant and accomplices reportedly used a yacht rented from a German company with forged identification to carry out the detonation of at least four bombs, weighing between 31 to 62 pounds, at depths of 230 to 263 feet near the Danish island of Bornholm.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline was a primary route for Russian natural gas to Germany until supplies were cut off in August 2022, while Nord Stream 2 was never operational due to Germany suspending its certification process prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The suspect was detained in 2025 in Italy and extradited to Germany in November of that year. A second suspect was arrested in Croatia and is seeking asylum to contest extradition.
The pipelines have faced criticism from the US and allies for increasing dependence on Russian gas. Russia has accused US and British intelligence of involvement in the explosions, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied any involvement from Ukraine. The German government has not commented on the trial, emphasizing the independence of the judiciary. Sixteen court dates have been scheduled through December 17, with additional dates planned for January and February 2027, but the timeline for a verdict remains unclear.