{
  "id": 14553341,
  "title": "Trial defence says Russia used Nord Stream pipelines as 'weapon'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/trial-defence-says-russia-used-nord-stream-pipelines-as-weapon-14553341",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T22:37:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/10/1555741/trial-defence-says-russia-used-nord-stream-pipelines-weapon"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "HAMBURG: Sergiy Kuznietsov, a 50-year-old former Ukrainian military officer, faces trial for allegedly leading a team of divers and an explosives expert to bomb the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022. The defense lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, argues there is insufficient evidence linking Kuznietsov to the sabotage, and contends Russia exploited the pipelines as a political and economic weapon during its invasion of Ukraine. The pipelines, owned by a consortium led by Russian energy giant Gazprom, were not operational at the time of the blasts. Prosecutors claim Kuznietsov committed a war crime by using military means to target civilian infrastructure. The pipelines, which were intended to deliver gas to Europe, were severely damaged, and Russia had previously reduced gas supplies to Europe as retaliation for sanctions imposed over the invasion. Germany, as Ukraine's primary military supporter, has accused Russia of the sabotage but awaits the trial's outcome before deciding on a stance.",
  "summary": "HAMBURG: A lawyer for a Ukrainian accused of blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines supplying Russian gas to western Europe said on Wednesday that Moscow had used the network to exert political and economic pressure, as the former military officer’s trial opened in Germany.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Former Ukrainian military officer to stand trial in Germany over Nord Stream sabotage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/former-ukrainian-military-officer-to-stand-trial-in-germany-over-nord",
        "published": "2026-10-14T09:37:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Ukrainian on trial in Germany over gas pipeline bombing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/ukrainian-on-trial-in-germany-over-gas-pipeline-bombing",
        "published": "2026-10-14T11:47:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Local Germany",
        "title": "Trial defence says Russia used Nord Stream pipelines as 'weapon'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/trial-defence-says-russia-used-nord-stream-pipelines-as-weapon",
        "published": "2026-10-14T12:29:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Nord Stream pipeline blasts: Why a Ukrainian man is on trial in Germany",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/nord-stream-pipeline-blasts-why-a-ukrainian-man-is-on-trial-in-germany",
        "published": "2026-10-14T12:41:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Ukrainian accused of Nord Stream pipeline sabotage goes on trial in Germany",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/ukrainian-accused-of-nord-stream-pipeline-sabotage-goes-on-trial-in",
        "published": "2026-10-14T13:43:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RFI English",
        "title": "Ukrainian ex-officer stands trial in Germany over Nord Stream pipeline blasts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/ukrainian-ex-officer-stands-trial-in-germany-over-nord-stream",
        "published": "2026-10-14T13:58:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Germany puts Ukrainian on trial over Nord Stream sabotage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/germany-puts-ukrainian-on-trial-over-nord-stream-sabotage",
        "published": "2026-10-14T16:04:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Trial of Kuznetsov, accused of organising Nord Stream pipeline explosions, begins in Hamburg",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/trial-of-kuznetsov-accused-of-organising-nord-stream-pipeline",
        "published": "2026-10-14T17:04:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Nord Stream trial opens in Germany, defense seeks dismissal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/nord-stream-trial-opens-in-germany-defense-seeks-dismissal",
        "published": "2026-10-14T18:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Germany has stood by Ukraine throughout Russia’s invasion. A trial over the Nord Stream explosions could put Berlin’s unconditional support to the test.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/germany-has-stood-by-ukraine-throughout-russias-invasion-a-trial-over",
        "published": "2026-10-14T19:26:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}