Kathmandu— A second Ukrainian national, identified as Vladimir Z., has been arrested in Croatia and will be extradited to Germany on suspicion of involvement in the 2022 blasts that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. The arrest comes after German prosecutors charged a former Ukrainian army officer, Serhii K., in July with orchestrating the explosions while allegedly acting on behalf of Ukrainian state entities. Both suspects are accused of planting explosives targeting the vital energy infrastructure following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Expanding Investigation

The German government welcomed Vladimir Z.’s arrest, with Ministry of Justice spokesman Nicholas Limmer stating that authorities were pleased with the progress being made in clarifying the circumstances surrounding the pipeline bombings. The initial suspect, Serhii K., was arrested in Italy in August 2023 and transferred to Germany in November, but has denied any involvement in the blasts which occurred near the Danish island of Bornholm.

Alleged Roles in Sabotage

According to German prosecutors, Vladimir Z. is a trained scuba diver who was part of a group led by Serhii K. tasked with planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The explosions in September 2022 caused significant damage to both lines, disrupting crucial gas supplies from Russia to Europe. Prosecutors allege that the intent behind the attack was to permanently halt gas deliveries and prevent Russia from using revenue generated by natural gas trade to fund its war effort in Ukraine.

Geopolitical Context

The Nord Stream pipelines have been a source of geopolitical tension for years, with Poland consistently opposing their construction due to concerns that Russia would leverage its energy resources for political gain. Prior to the explosions, Moscow had already halted gas deliveries via Nord Stream 1, citing Western sanctions and technical issues – claims Europe refuted, accusing Russia of weaponizing energy supplies. The damaged pipelines end in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, giving German courts jurisdiction over the case due to its impact on Germany’s energy security.

Kyiv's Response

Ukrainian authorities have stated they lack sufficient information to provide a detailed response to the German allegations. Russia and Western countries alike have characterized the September 2022 explosions as acts of sabotage, though responsibility has not been definitively assigned.

The investigation into the Nord Stream pipeline blasts remains ongoing, with prosecutors continuing to gather evidence and prepare for potential trials. The extradition process for Vladimir Z. is underway.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.