Polish Court Holds Ukrainian Diving Instructor in Custody Over Nord Stream Case

A Polish court has ordered that a Ukrainian diving instructor, identified as Volodymyr Z., remain in custody while authorities review a German request for his extradition over his alleged role in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. German investigators allege he was part of a team that rented a yacht in Rostock before placing explosives near Bornholm in the Baltic Sea.

The September 2022 blasts critically damaged three of the four Nord Stream gas lines, cutting a major conduit for Russian gas into Europe. Seismic data confirmed underwater explosions, which aligned with sudden pressure drops in the pipelines and triggered multiple international inquiries.

While Denmark and Sweden later closed their probes without naming suspects, German prosecutors have continued pursuing leads. The arrest of Volodymyr Z., along with related cases in Italy, has renewed global focus on the vulnerability of critical undersea infrastructure and Europe’s future energy security.