A Croatian court has granted approval for the extradition of a Ukrainian national sought by German authorities in connection with the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The suspect was apprehended in August in Pula, a town in northern Croatia, while reportedly working on a cinematic project depicting the attacks.
Ljubo Pavasovic Viskovic, the suspect’s attorney, confirmed on Thursday that the court issued its ruling on September 18. However, he noted that the decision is not yet final and is expected to be appealed, leaving the timeline and outcome of the extradition uncertain.
German prosecutors have identified the individual as Vladimir Z, describing him as a trained scuba diver who allegedly participated in planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm. The underwater blasts on September 26, 2022, severely damaged the infrastructure designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany.
This development follows charges filed in July against a former Ukrainian army officer linked to the explosions. Prosecutors allege that Vladimir Z collaborated closely with Serhii K, another Ukrainian suspect who was detained in August 2025 during a raid on a family bungalow in Italy. Serhii K was subsequently extradited to Germany last November and is scheduled to stand trial at the Hamburg Higher Regional Court starting October 14, with proceedings potentially extending into February 2027.
The attacks occurred months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, destroying three of the four pipeline lines during a period when European nations were seeking to reduce reliance on Russian energy. Investigators believe a Ukrainian state agency orchestrated the operation to cut off revenue streams funding the war.
The case presents a diplomatic challenge for Germany, a staunch supporter of Kyiv. While government officials have emphasized the independence of the judiciary when questioned about the matter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that his government had no prior knowledge of any plan to destroy the pipelines.
Interesting that the co-suspect was caught in Italy. I wonder if more players are still at large somewhere in the EU right now?
Will the appeal drag this out for years? We already waited four years for answers; I hope justice isn’t delayed by procedural nonsense.
This complicates Germany’s stance significantly. They support Ukraine but must prosecute allies? Interesting diplomatic tightrope they are walking on now.
Wait, he was filming a movie about the attacks while allegedly committing them? That is some next-level psychological horror right there.