Poland arrests Ukrainian man over 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions

A Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany in 2022 was arrested in Poland, a spokesperson for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Warsaw said on Tuesday.

Volodymyr Z. was detained by police officers in the central city of Pruszków, according to Polish radio station RMF FM, which first reported his arrest.

He has been transferred to the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw.

The man, whose full name wasn't disclosed due to privacy rules, was detained on a European arrest warrant that was issued by German authorities.

His capture marks the second arrest of a Ukrainian man, suspected of being involved in the sabotage of the pipelines under the Baltic Sea.

German prosecutors confirmed last month that a man identified only as Serhii K. had been arrested in Italy.

In a statement, the German prosecutors' office confirmed that arrest, saying the "accused was allegedly one of the coordinators of the operation".

Explosions on 26 September 2022 damaged the pipelines, which were built to carry Russian natural gas to Germany.

The damage added to tensions over the war in Ukraine as European countries moved to wean themselves off Russian energy sources following the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Russia's main natural gas supply route to Germany until Moscow cut off supplies at the end of August 2022.

They also damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which never entered service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February of that year.

Russia accused the US of staging the explosions, a charge Washington denies.

The pipelines were long a target of criticism by the US and some of its allies, who warned that they posed a risk to Europe’s energy security by increasing dependence on Russian gas.

In 2023, German media reported that a pro-Ukraine group was involved in the sabotage. Ukraine rejected suggestions it might have ordered the attack and German officials voiced caution over the accusation.