Nord Stream trial opens in Germany as ex-Ukrainian officer denies role in pipeline blasts

A Ukrainian ex-military officer identified under German privacy rules as Serhii K. went on trial in Germany on Wednesday, accused of organising the operation that destroyed the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022.

Prosecutors allege Serhii K. led a group of Ukrainian agents — including divers and an explosives expert — to blow up the 1,200-kilometre Baltic Sea pipeline, severing western Europe from its largest source of Russian natural gas. He was arrested under an international warrant in Italy and has denied any involvement in the blasts.

Kyiv has also denied responsibility for the attack.

The case marks the first opportunity for public scrutiny of evidence gathered during a years-long investigation that has proved politically sensitive for the German government, which remains a firm backer of Ukraine despite the investigative trail pointing toward Kyiv.

Prosecutors have alleged that Serhii K. acted on behalf of unidentified Ukrainian state entities. The proceedings will put German courts in the position of publicly examining acts attributed to an ally at war with Russia.