Italy's Top Court Approves Extradition of Ukrainian Suspect in Nord Stream Sabotage to Germany

Italy's highest court has authorized the extradition of Ukrainian national Serhii Kuznietsov to Germany over allegations of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions.

Kuznietsov, a 49-year-old former Ukrainian military officer, was arrested on August 21, 2025, at a campsite near Rimini, Italy, under a European arrest warrant issued by Germany. He is accused of coordinating and executing the detonation of multiple explosive devices on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022, causing significant damage to the infrastructure.

Following his arrest, Kuznietsov denied any involvement in the explosions, asserting that he was serving as an army captain in Ukraine at the time of the incident. His defense lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, expressed disappointment with the court's decision but stated that the legal battle would continue in Germany, aiming for an acquittal.

The extradition is expected to take place within the next ten days, with Italian authorities coordinating the transfer with their German counterparts.

In a related development, Polish authorities arrested another Ukrainian suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, in connection with the Nord Stream sabotage. However, a Polish court denied Germany's extradition request, citing national interest concerns.

The Nord Stream pipeline explosions in September 2022 disrupted critical gas supplies from Russia to Europe, intensifying geopolitical tensions in the region. Investigations into the sabotage are ongoing, with no group claiming responsibility to date.