ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A Croatian court has approved the extradition of a Ukrainian man who is wanted in Germany in connection with the 2022 undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines, state media said Thursday.
The report from HRT Television quoted the suspect's lawyer Ljubo Pavaskovic as saying that he will appeal the Sept. 18 ruling. It was not immediately clear when the man could be handed over to Germany.
He was arrested on a European warrant in the northern Croatian town of Pula in August.
German prosecutors have said that the suspect was a “trained scuba diver” who, along with others, “planted explosives” on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea near the Danish island of Bornholm.
The undersea explosions on Sept. 26, 2022, damaged the pipelines, which had been built to carry Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea. The damage added to tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war as European countries moved to wean themselves off Russian energy sources after the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022.
The German prosecutor’s office identified the suspect only as Vladimir Z. A spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that it was the same man who was arrested in Poland last year, but was later released when a Polish court refused to extradite him to Germany. Polish authorities identified him as Volodymyr Zhuravlov.
In July, German federal prosecutors filed charges against a former Ukrainian army officer in connection with the same explosions.
Serhii K. was detained in August 2025 in an Italian village, where officers raided a bungalow he was staying at with his family. He was extradited to Germany in November.
The suspects allegedly used a yacht rented from a German company using forged IDs and intermediaries and set off from the German port of Rostock.
The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Russia’s main natural gas supply route to Germany until Moscow cut off supplies in August 2022. They also damaged Nord Stream 2, which never entered service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia’s all-out invasion.
FILE - Ukrainian defendant Volodymyr Zhuravlov, right, listens to the proceedings in Warsaw's Regional Court in Warsaw, Poland, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Matthew Breetzke notched his second ODI hundred and spinner Keshav Maharaj made up for the absence of four frontline fast bowlers to help South Africa beat Australia by 67 runs on Thursday.
Breetzke scored 112 off 106 balls and Marco Jansen countercharged in the latter half of the innings with a 75 that included four sixes and seven boundaries to give South Africa a total of 297-8.
Australia, which won the toss and elected field, was restricted by the two left-arm spinners — Maharaj (4-20) and Bjorn Fortuin (2-34) — on a tacky wicket to get bowled out for 230 in 41.2 overs.
South Africa leads the three-match series 1-0 with games on Sunday and Wednesday.
Captain Mitchell Marsh had flattened the pace with his explosive hitting and made 60 off 36 balls in a whirlwind opening stand with Travis Head of 90 off 56 balls before Australia came down crashing against the South African spin duo.
Marsh smacked six sixes, including a 104-meter hit against Jansen that sailed over the roof of the dressing room at square leg and landed at the roadside before he chipped Maharaj to covers in the 10th over.
Matt Renshaw made 44 but was caught by a diving Jansen one-handed at deep mid-wicket in the 37th over that gave Gerald Coetzee his first wicket in the ODIs since he last played the 50-over format nearly three years ago.
South Africa has a lengthy injury list with four of its fast bowlers including Kagiso Rabada and Kwena Maphaka ruled out of the series because of hamstring injuries.
See AP’s full cricket coverage here
South Africa's batsman Matthew Breetzke, right, plays a short ball whilst Australia's wicketkeeper Josh Inglis watches on during the first one day international cricket match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's bowler Marco Jansen takes a catch during the first one day international cricket match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's bowler Keshav Maharaj, right, celebrates after dismissing Australia's batsman Jack Edwards during the first one day international cricket match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's batsman Matthew Breetzke celebrates his century during the first one day international cricket match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's batsman Matthew Breetzke plays a shot during the first one day international cricket match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia's player celebrate following the second one day international cricket match between Zimbabwe and Australia in Harare, Zimbabwe, Friday, Sept.18, 2026. (AP Photo/Wonder Mashura)
