A court in Italy has issued an order for the extradition of a suspected key figure in the Nord Stream pipeline attacks to Germany, multiple news outlets reported Tuesday.
The individual, identified as Serhii K., was arrested in Italy in August following a European Arrest Warrant issued by a German federal court investigating judge. He faces charges including joint causation of an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of buildings.
According to the German Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, Serhii K. is believed to have been part of a group that placed explosive devices on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines near the island of Bornholm in September 2022. He is suspected of having been one of the operation’s coordinators.
The group reportedly utilized a sailing yacht originating from Rostock, Germany. The yacht was leased from a German company through intermediaries, with the use of forged identification documents. The explosives detonated on September 26, 2022, causing significant damage to both pipelines.
