January 16, 2026
German court says Ukraine was responsible for sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines
Germany’s Federal Court of Justice has determined that Ukraine was responsible for the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022, Der Spiegel reports, citing a court ruling dated Dec
TL;DR
- Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled that Ukraine is highly likely responsible for the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions.
- The court stated the explosions were carried out "on the instructions of a foreign state," later identified as Ukraine.
- Serhii Kuznetsov, accused of coordinating the sabotage, had his appeal to be released from custody rejected.
- The court determined the pipeline was not a legitimate military target and Kuznetsov was not a combatant.
- Kuznetsov was extradited from Italy to Germany and will stand trial in Hamburg.
- Polish authorities refused to extradite another suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravlev, to Germany.
- German investigators believe seven Ukrainian nationals were involved in the sabotage operation.