A Ukrainian man went on trial Wednesday in Hamburg, Germany, charged with war crimes for allegedly leading the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines.
The case marks the first judicial proceeding concerning the Nord Stream pipeline explosions.
German prosecutors allege that the suspect Serhii K headed a team, including divers and explosives experts, in planning and carrying out acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.
On September 26, 2022, explosions damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea near Denmark and Sweden, causing massive gas leaks. Three of the four pipeline strings were damaged in what investigators believe was an act of sabotage.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Serhii K. chose to remain silent after the prosecution read out the indictment. His defense team argued that there was no conclusive evidence linking the defendant to the criminal activity and stated that a key issue in the trial is whether the Nord Stream pipeline constitutes a military target or civilian energy infrastructure.
The court has scheduled 16 hearing sessions through December 17, with plans to arrange further hearing dates for January and February of next year.
After being arrested in Italy in August 2025 and later extradited to Germany, Serhii K. was indicted by German federal prosecutors this July. While awaiting extradition in Italy, he made phone calls to friends and family in which he discussed the attack and appeared to admit his guilt; these calls were intercepted by investigators. Investigators also discovered evidence on his mobile phone linking him to the attack.
Ukrainian national goes on trial in Germany over Nord Stream sabotage
