Nord Stream scandal: investigation into explosion divides Europe, Ukrainians among suspects
10.11.2025The high-profile case of the Baltic gas pipeline: how the explosion at Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2 caused a political crisis between Germany, Italy, Poland and Ukraine
Gas leak from the blown-up Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea in September 2022. RITZAU SCANPIX/REUTERS
Autumn 2025. The investigation into the explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which took place back in September 2022, is taking a new turn. German investigators have officially charged a group of seven people, including at least three Ukrainian citizens.1. Those detained and awaiting extradition are currently in Italy and Poland; the extradition of one of the suspected sabotage coordinators, Sergei Kuznetsov, is being challenged by lawyers in Italian courts2.
German version: special operation under the roof of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and traces on the Baltic Sea
The results of a three-year investigation — from tracking the yacht “Andromeda” to analyzing explosives and phone billing — led investigators to the conclusion: the Nord Stream explosion was organized by an elite Ukrainian unit under the direct control of the then commander-in-chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhny. According to German materials, a group of seven people (a coordinator, a skipper, an explosives expert and four divers) rented a yacht in Rostock, conducted an operation in the Baltic Sea and managed to destroy three strands of the gas pipeline1.
Germany has already issued arrest warrants for three soldiers and four divers, and is in formal extradition talks with Italy. A court in Poland has refused to extradite another suspect, a dispute that is now threatening diplomatic relations between Warsaw, Kyiv, and Berlin.
Ukraine's position and the European Union's reaction
Official Kyiv categorically denies the involvement of state structures in the sabotage, but instead admits that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have special forces capable of carrying out such an operation. In social networks and official comments, Ukraine refers to sources in the United States and Great Britain, who claim that Russia itself could have “partially organized” the sabotage, or is heating up the scandal to split the anti-Russian coalition.3.
Brussels is concerned that further “legal spin on the Nord Stream case” could undermine solidarity on anti-Russian sanctions, defense assistance programs, and Ukraine's status as a future EU member.
A major political split over the Baltic gas pipeline: dilemmas for Poland, Italy, Germany
Poland has been vocal in its support for Ukraine, criticizing Germany for “overemphasizing the legal formalities” of the case. At the same time, there is a debate within the country about whether Ukraine is to blame for the sabotage or whether it is an attempt to destabilize the economies of Eastern Europe.
In Italy, the topic has become part of the election campaign, diplomats are balancing between the EU and the abolition of extradition, the courts have suspended the extradition of Ukrainian Kuznetsov to Hamburg despite pressure from Germany2.
Germany, for its part, is eager to see the matter through to the end: “The issue of energy security cannot be left without responsibility, and the undermining of a strategic pipeline is a threat to all of Europe,” says Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
International analysis: can the Nord Stream case really undermine Western unity?
Reuters, Unherd, WSJ, and Süddeutsche Zeitung commentators emphasize: the current litigation is a test of the EU's willingness to put legal principles above geopolitical consolidation. A split among the largest players (Germany and Poland) could threaten the implementation of military assistance programs for Kyiv, change attitudes towards Ukraine's accession to the EU, and even affect the mood of voters in major countries.
Critics warn that Russia will exploit any disagreement to undermine trust in the sanctions system, weaken support for Ukraine, and consolidate its own energy leverage in Europe. Court decisions on extradition and, especially, the trial of Ukrainians in Germany will become new “boiling points” for the anti-Russian alliance.4
What's next: Nord Stream's prospects and geopolitical risks
The coming months should be decisive for the entire geopolitical picture: will the EU be able to maintain unity and support for Ukraine, will the Nord Stream explosions become a point of no return for the balance in relations between the West and Kyiv. The key question is whether the cases will lead to real verdicts, or will the investigation remain in the zone of political play.
EU leaders are already looking for compromises, but the trend towards a “legal split” is growing. At the same time, Ukraine and its allies are preparing for the harshest scenarios — and this case could become a litmus test of Europe’s willingness to maintain a unified policy towards Russia even in difficult conditions.
Sources
- Wall Street Journal: The Nord Stream Investigation That's Splintering Europe Over Ukraine (2025-11-09)
- Reuters: Nord Stream sabotage suspect wins reprieve in Italian court battle (2025-10-15)
- Kyiv Independent: Who sabotaged Nord Stream? 3 years on, investigations remain unresolved (2025-09-30)
- Unherd: How Nord Stream 2 has blown up Europe (2025-10-12)
- Wikipedia: Nord Stream pipelines sabotage
- DW: Germany: Arrest made over Nord Stream pipeline explosions (2025-08-21)
