Nord Stream suspect Zhuravlyov seeks asylum in Croatia after extradition approval

A Ukrainian scuba diver, Volodymyr Zhuravliov, who is suspected of involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, has requested political asylum in Croatia, according to Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne. Croatian authorities detained Zhuravliov in August 2025 under a European arrest warrant issued by Germany, which accuses him of placing explosives on the pipelines during a covert operation from a yacht that departed from Rostock.

Zhuravliov's attorney has cited concerns over a fair trial in Germany as the reason for the asylum request, although the asylum does not prevent his extradition. Prior to this, Zhuravliov was detained in Poland but released after a Polish court ruled against his extradition, arguing that the sabotage could be considered a justified action in Ukraine's defense against Russia.

German authorities have linked the explosions to a pro-Ukraine group, with another Ukrainian national, Serhii Kuznetsov, currently in German custody. Ukraine has denied any involvement in the explosions. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never operational, has been a contentious issue in European energy politics, with critics arguing it increased Germany's reliance on Russian gas and weakened European energy security.

Brief written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.