Donald Tusk, the former President of the European Council and current leader of Poland’s Civic Platform party, has come forward with strong criticism regarding the Nord Stream pipelines, particularly in light of the recent arrest of a second Ukrainian suspect in Croatia, linked to the alleged sabotage of the gas infrastructure.
The suspect was apprehended in the city of Pula, with a warrant for his arrest issued by Germany, which is seeking his extradition. Previously, when this suspect was detained in Poland, Warsaw declined to extradite him under an international request, leading to his release.
When asked if he still believes the suspect should not face criminal charges, Tusk affirmed his stance. He emphasized that Poland has long opposed the construction of the Nord Stream pipelines, warning that they would deepen Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. Tusk pointed out that Germany had a different perspective at the time, which they later revised when it was already too late.
In this context, Tusk asserted that Germany should not pursue legal action against those who take measures when their country is under attack. He reiterated his view that shame should be directed towards those who constructed the pipeline, rather than those who have now chosen to disable it.
In response to Tusk’s statements, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, remarked that Tusk’s remarks, which seemingly justify the destruction of the pipelines, send a “destructive signal.” She warned that Poland’s current stance on the Nord Stream pipelines could “backfire” on its vital interests and security in the future.
Context
- On the night of September 26, 2022, underwater explosions were detected along the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea, causing significant gas leaks. Defense ministers from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland characterized the incident as sabotage, with traces of explosives found at the site. An investigation in 2024 was suspended without identifying any culprits.
- Germany has issued arrest warrants for seven Ukrainians suspected of involvement in the sabotage. Reports indicate that four divers were part of the operation, including a female explosives expert, a skipper from Odesa, and a coordinator, with one suspect reportedly having died in combat.
- One of the suspects, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, was arrested in the Polish town of Pruszków at the end of September 2025, but the Warsaw district court refused to extradite him under Germany’s warrant and subsequently released him. It is believed that this individual is the same suspect apprehended in Croatia.
- Another suspect, Ukrainian Sergey Kuznetsov, is currently in custody in Germany after being extradited from Italy in November of last year and is facing charges of attacking civilian energy infrastructure, which constitutes a war crime under international law.
