Nord-Stream-Prozess: Nord-Stream-Anschlag: Erster mutmaßlicher Täter vor Gericht

A first suspect in the Nord Stream attack has faced trial in Hamburg, marking the beginning of a significant legal case. The accused, Serhij Kusnetzow, a former officer from a special unit of the Ukrainian army, is alleged to have planned and overseen what is considered the most spectacular sabotage operation in post-war Germany history, carried out around four years ago.

Kusnetzow, 50 years old, is accused of committing a war crime by using prohibited methods during an attack on civilian objects, causing explosions, destroying structures, and disrupting public operations. On September 26, 2022, explosions occurred in the Baltic Sea near the Danish island of Bornholm, approximately 80 meters deep, damaging the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.

Four leaks were reported, affecting all four pipelines. Russia reportedly stopped gas flow to Germany from Nord Stream 1 three weeks prior due to technical issues, while Nord Stream 2 was never operational due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and political disputes. Kusnetzow allegedly conspired with six accomplices at the Wiek port on Rügen in September 2022, equipping four explosive charges with time fuses and attaching them to the pipelines during underwater dives.

The accused denies involvement, claiming lack of expertise in diving, explosives, and sailing. He was detained in Italy on a European Arrest Warrant and transferred to Germany three months later to face charges of a war crime. Italy's defense attorney argues that Germany misconstrued the extradition, while prosecutors claim the attack on Nord Stream 1 and 2, initially halted due to technical problems, was a deliberate act of geopolitical pressure.

The trial, which has been ongoing since November 2025, will continue through January 2027 with additional sessions planned.