German prosecutors have issued the initial arrest warrant in connection with the Nord Stream explosions, according to reports.
German prosecutors have reportedly issued the initial arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national in connection with the Nord Stream explosions that occurred in 2022, according to local media sources. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The German Federal Public Prosecutor has formally issued an arrest warrant related to the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, according to reports from local media. A Ukrainian named ‘Vladimir Z’ has been identified as the suspect, but his connections, if any, to the Ukrainian military or intelligence agencies remain unknown.
The sabotage incident, which took place in September 2022, resulted in significant damage to the Baltic Sea pipelines, specifically Nord Stream 1 and the then-inactive Nord Stream 2. This led to a cessation of gas flows from Russia to Germany, with no group yet claiming responsibility for the attack.
On Wednesday, it was reported by ARD, Suddeutsche Zeitung, and Die Zeit that Federal Public Prosecutor Jens Rommel issued the arrest warrant in early June. ARD disclosed that ‘Vladimir Z’ has been pegged as the suspect, with two other Ukrainians, a couple, possibly involved as his accomplices.
German authorities are said to have sought help from Poland to track down ‘Vladimir Z’, who was last noted near Warsaw before vanishing. ARD reported that they contacted Vladimir Z. by phone, during which he denied any involvement in the sabotage.
The alleged perpetrators are believed to have traveled to the sabotage site using a yacht named ‘Andromeda’. However, Polish officials have stated that the yacht’s travel was for tourism purposes only, and the crew did not raise any suspicion. Despite this, German prosecutors are reportedly unconvinced by this explanation and have faced hurdles as Polish authorities claimed that relevant CCTV footage has been erased and have not cooperated regarding Vladimir Z’s potential location, ARD stated.
To date, investigators have found no conclusive evidence tying the suspect to Ukrainian military or intelligence entities. Ukraina's official stance, articulated by high-ranking officials, denies any role in the pipeline sabotage.
The German prosecutor’s office has withheld comments on the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have suggested that the U.S. could benefit most from the cessation of Russian gas supplies to Germany, and have repeatedly indicated Washington’s historical opposition to the Nord Stream project. The Kremlin has also criticized Western countries for allegedly obstructing investigative efforts into the pipeline explosions.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
The sabotage incident, which took place in September 2022, resulted in significant damage to the Baltic Sea pipelines, specifically Nord Stream 1 and the then-inactive Nord Stream 2. This led to a cessation of gas flows from Russia to Germany, with no group yet claiming responsibility for the attack.
On Wednesday, it was reported by ARD, Suddeutsche Zeitung, and Die Zeit that Federal Public Prosecutor Jens Rommel issued the arrest warrant in early June. ARD disclosed that ‘Vladimir Z’ has been pegged as the suspect, with two other Ukrainians, a couple, possibly involved as his accomplices.
German authorities are said to have sought help from Poland to track down ‘Vladimir Z’, who was last noted near Warsaw before vanishing. ARD reported that they contacted Vladimir Z. by phone, during which he denied any involvement in the sabotage.
The alleged perpetrators are believed to have traveled to the sabotage site using a yacht named ‘Andromeda’. However, Polish officials have stated that the yacht’s travel was for tourism purposes only, and the crew did not raise any suspicion. Despite this, German prosecutors are reportedly unconvinced by this explanation and have faced hurdles as Polish authorities claimed that relevant CCTV footage has been erased and have not cooperated regarding Vladimir Z’s potential location, ARD stated.
To date, investigators have found no conclusive evidence tying the suspect to Ukrainian military or intelligence entities. Ukraina's official stance, articulated by high-ranking officials, denies any role in the pipeline sabotage.
The German prosecutor’s office has withheld comments on the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have suggested that the U.S. could benefit most from the cessation of Russian gas supplies to Germany, and have repeatedly indicated Washington’s historical opposition to the Nord Stream project. The Kremlin has also criticized Western countries for allegedly obstructing investigative efforts into the pipeline explosions.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
