German federal prosecutors have filed charges against a 50-year-old Ukrainian national, identified as Serhii K, in connection with the 2022 explosions that destroyed the Nord Stream underwater gas pipelines. The indictment accuses the suspect of attacking civilian energy infrastructure, causing explosions, and destroying structures.

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which linked Russia to Europe, were severely damaged in the underwater explosions, halting gas transport for months following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The sabotage occurred near Denmark's Bornholm Island in September 2022.

Prosecutors allege that Serhii K played a key role in coordinating a team that used a sailing yacht, the Andromeda, to plant explosive devices on the pipelines. According to court documents, he is suspected of acting as the on-board coordinator and team leader, rather than as a diver or bomb expert. The Berlin law firm representing the accused has not commented on the specifics of the indictment.

Federal prosecutors confirmed that Serhii K is the same individual arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany the following November. At the time of his arrest, he was identified as Serhii Kuznietsov. Prosecutors stated then that he had used forged identity documents to charter the yacht used in the operation, which departed from the German city of Rostock.

Serhii K has denied involvement in the sabotage operation. His defense team has argued that he was a member of the Ukrainian armed forces and was in Ukraine at the time of the incident, which they claim would grant him "functional immunity" under international law. This assertion presents a significant legal challenge for the prosecution.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, when asked about the charges during a news conference, stated that it was too early to comment in detail. He indicated that Ukraine had not yet officially received any information regarding the indictment, suggesting a potential gap in communication or formal notification between the involved nations.

The investigation into the Nord Stream sabotage has been complex, involving multiple countries and raising geopolitical questions about responsibility. The destruction of the pipelines represented a significant blow to energy infrastructure and highlighted the vulnerabilities of undersea assets.

Further details of the indictment are expected to emerge as the legal process unfolds. The case raises important questions about accountability for acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure and the potential involvement of state or non-state actors in such operations.