German prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant in their investigation into the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in 2022. The first warrant was issued in June against a Ukrainian national, Volodymyr Z, who was believed to have been living in Poland until recently. Polish authorities attempted to arrest Volodymyr Z in July but he had already returned to Ukraine. The explosions on 26 September 2022 damaged the pipelines, adding to tensions over Russia’s war in Ukraine, as European countries sought to reduce their reliance on Russian energy sources. However, the motive and perpetrator behind the sabotage remain unclear.
Swedish and Danish authorities had previously closed their investigations into the explosions in February, leaving the German prosecutors’ case as the only remaining probe. The blasts ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was a major gas supply route from Russia to Germany, until Russia stopped supplies at the end of August. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never in operation, was also damaged. There were suspicions that Russia may have been behind the sabotage, but former German intelligence chief Gerhard Schindler alleged that it was orchestrated to justify halting gas supplies to Europe. However, investigations have not produced conclusive evidence linking Russia to the attacks.
In December 2022, The Washington Post reported that after months of investigation, there was no definitive proof that Russia was responsible for the explosions. Russia has accused the US of staging the attacks, a claim which the US has denied. The pipelines had long been criticized by the US and its allies for increasing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and undermining energy security. The Kremlin has not provided any evidence to support its claims of US involvement in the attacks. In contrast, German media had previously reported that a pro-Ukraine group may have been involved in the sabotage, although Ukraine denied any involvement.
Investigators found traces of undersea explosives in samples taken from a yacht that was searched as part of the probe last year. However, the exact details of the investigation and the identity of the perpetrator behind the explosions remain unclear. German prosecutors have not commented on the investigation, and information obtained from media reports is limited. The arrest warrant issued against Volodymyr Z has not led to his apprehension, as he had already left Poland by the time authorities attempted to arrest him. The case continues to be shrouded in mystery, with no clear evidence pointing towards a specific culprit or motive for the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
