Croatia detains Ukrainian Nord Stream blast suspect pending extradition
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A Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blasts was placed in pre-trial detention in Pula, Croatia, on Thursday. German prosecutors identified him as trained scuba diver Vladimir Z., arrested Wednesday on a European arrest warrant. The detention precedes a decision on his extradition to Germany.
Key Facts
- Vladimir Z. was arrested in a Pula hotel in the early hours of Wednesday on a European arrest warrant.
- The Pula court ordered the suspect held in pre-trial detention on Thursday following a request from the county state attorney.
- German prosecutors say Vladimir Z. was part of a group behind the blasts that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.
- Another suspect, former Ukrainian army officer Serhii K., was charged in July with orchestrating the blasts on behalf of Ukrainian state entities.
- German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said his ministry is in contact with Croatian authorities to facilitate the extradition.
Arrest and Detention
Vladimir Z. was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday in a hotel in the Croatian coastal city of Pula on a European arrest warrant. Court officials in Pula said the suspect was placed in pre-trial detention on Thursday following a request from the county state attorney, who has questioned him. They gave no details on whether he had entered a plea.
Nord Stream Investigation
German prosecutors have said Vladimir Z. was part of a group behind the blasts which followed Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. The explosions damaged the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, a vital route for Russian gas exports to Europe, as well as the Nord Stream 2 branch, which had yet to enter service. Another suspect in the case, former Ukrainian army officer Serhii K., was charged by prosecutors in July with orchestrating the blasts while acting on behalf of Ukrainian state entities. Serhii K. was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and transferred to Germany in November; he has denied any involvement in the blasts near the Danish island of Bornholm.
Extradition Process
German courts have treated the case as falling within their jurisdiction because the damaged pipelines end in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and their loss affected Germany's energy security and internal safety. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said his ministry has been in contact with the Croatian authorities to facilitate the suspect's extradition but that the procedures can take time. Dobrindt added that Germany has a strong interest in clarifying the facts and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to Germany, where they will be dealt with appropriately.
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Croatia detains Ukrainian Nord Stream blast suspect pending extradition
