Five Ukrainians, pursue by Germany for Nord Stream sabotaging in 2022. Arrest warrants, after almost two years of investigation

The German police have issued arrest warrants for five Ukrainian citizens suspected of involving the North Stream pipes in 2022, an episode that continues to generate diplomatic tensions.

The first arrest warrants for sabotaging North Stream gas pipe 2. Photo: Shutterstock

Arrest warrants after almost two years of investigation

Almost two years after the explosions that seriously damaged the North Stream 1 and 2 pipes, the German authorities issued arrest warrants on behalf of five Ukrainian citizens. According to investigators, they would have been part of a group of sabotets that set up the attack on the Baltic Sea.

The decision occurs shortly after, in Italy, the police arrested another Ukrainian accused of coordinating the operation, notes TVP.world.

The explosion, considered by both Moscow and Western states an act of sabotage, had major consequences on Europe. The pipes by which Russia transported natural gas to Germany became unusable, and the incident deepened the energy crisis in Europe, in full war triggered by Moscow against Ukraine.

Who are the suspects

Germany journalistic investigations have revealed that investigators have identified seven people involved, five of whom are now searched. One of the alleged authors would have died in the meantime, fighting in the Ukrainian army.

The information shows that the suspects used fake passports to travel through Poland and rent a yacht from Rostock port on the northern coast of Germany. From there, he would have left for the Baltic Sea, where they carried out the sabotage operation.

The group would have included experts in navigation and diving, and one of its members would have previously benefited from training from the German army, in preparation for the Ukraine front.

The German authorities claim that they have found on the boat traces of explosives, fingerprints and DNA samples, which were compared with biometric data existing in official files, including the fingerprints submitted by one of the suspects in a visa application for the Netherlands.

Hypotheses regarding the support of the Ukrainian state

Three press publications in Germany reported that the investigation also raises the question whether the Ukrainian state had provided support to the operation. Such a hypothesis, if confirmed, could tension the relationships between Berlin and Kiev, given that Germany is one of the most important political, financial and military supporters of Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials categorically reject any involvement of the state in sabotage, insisting that the action was not coordinated by the Kiev authorities.

Suspicions and divergence with Poland

In addition to Ukraine, Poland is also mentioned in the context of the investigation.

According to the German press, Warsaw would deliberately refused to cooperate fully with the German authorities and there are indications that one of the suspects had left Poland in a Ukrainian diplomatic vehicle, despite the mandate issued by Germany. In addition, Polish officials would have denied the accusations that the yacht used by the sabotors would have made a stop in the port of Kołobrzeg.

These tensions come against the background that Poland has always opposed North Stream projects, considering them dangerous for Europe's energy security and independence from Russia.

Lessons of energy dependence

For Germany, the attack on the pipes was a turning point, given that in the years that preceded the Russian invasion of Ukraine Berlin, it has strongly relied on gas imports from Russia, despite the warnings from Poland and Ukraine.

After February 2022, the German authorities acknowledged that this strategy was “a mistake” and announced measures to permanently reduce the energy dependence on Moscow.

North Stream sabotage remains one of the most mysterious episodes of the Ukraine war, and recent developments show that the investigation can reveal not only guilty, but also cracks in the relations between European allies.