On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Italian police arrested 49-year-old Ukrainian Serhii Kuznetsov in Rimini, Italy, where he was vacationing with his family. Kuznetsov is suspected of coordinating the bombing of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, according to a European arrest warrant issued at the request of the German Public Prosecutor's Office.

The warrant identifies Kuznetsov as the coordinator and commander of a sabotage group consisting of seven individuals, including the captain of the sailing yacht "Andromeda," four divers, and an explosives expert. The group allegedly boarded the yacht in the port of Vik on Rügen Island and installed at least four explosive devices containing a mixture of hexogen and octogen on the pipelines at depths of 70 to 80 meters northeast and southeast of the island of Bornholm.

The explosions occurred on September 26, 2022, causing extensive damage to the pipelines and releasing large quantities of gas into the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 1, which previously supplied about half of Germany's annual gas needs, was rendered unusable. Nord Stream 2, completed but not operational at the time, was also damaged. Both pipelines terminate in Lubmin, Germany.

Kuznetsov's arrest was made after law enforcement identified him upon checking into a hotel in Rimini. He faces up to 15 years in prison if extradited to Germany. He has already retained legal counsel and will receive interpreter assistance due to his limited knowledge of Italian.

The purpose of the sabotage, as stated in the arrest warrant, was to disrupt long-term gas supplies from Russia to Germany. The case carries significant political implications, potentially affecting Germany's relations with Ukraine and international diplomatic dynamics.

As of Thursday, August 28, 2025, Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed any official involvement in the sabotage operation. The investigation continues, with German prosecutors seeking to bring Kuznetsov to trial in the coming months.