German prosecutors announced Thursday that a suspect had been arrested in connection with an alleged 2022 attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which transported Russian gas to Europe.

The suspect, a Ukrainian national, was detained near Rimini, Italy, prosecutors said. In a statement, they thanked their Italian counterparts and other international law enforcement agencies for their assistance.

Authorities said the individual, identified only as Serhii K. in accordance with German privacy laws, was part of a group that planted explosives on the pipelines and is believed to have helped coordinate the attack.

Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig praised the "impressive success" that led to the overnight arrest, calling for the case to proceed until all the suspects had been detained.

What happened to the pipelines?

Danish authorities detected a series of underwater explosions on September 26, 2022, near Nord Stream infrastructure. The suspected sabotage and resulting gas leaks rendered three pipelines inoperable.

Controversial even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the pipelines became more so after Moscow launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022. At the time of the attack, the pipelines were filled with gas but not operational, as part of early sanctions against the Russian government.

Seen by both Russia and the West as an act of sabotage, no one has ever taken responsibility for explosions

Nord Stream 1 and 2 were among 23 pipelines that delivered Russian gas to Europe before the invasion.

Who is the suspect?

Because the explosions occurred in Swedish and Danish waters on German-owned equipment, all three countries launched investigations.

In August 2024, German authorities concluded their initial investigation and issued an arrest warrant for the suspected ringleader, a Ukrainian national identified as Volodymyr Z. Officials said he had been living in Poland and had chartered a German yacht to carry out the attack.

The Ukrainian government has vehemently denied any involvement in the incident.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse