Investigators search for Ukrainian scuba instructor on warrant
Almost two years ago, the Nord Stream pipelines were blown up on the seabed of the Baltic Sea. While Sweden and Denmark have already suspended their investigations, the Federal Prosecutor's Office remains active and is searching for a suspected Ukrainian diving instructor via an arrest warrant.
A Ukrainian diving instructor who last lived in Poland is suspected of being one of the perpetrators of the attack on the two Nord Stream pipelines. According to information from ARD, "Süddeutsche Zeitung" and "Die Zeit", the Federal Prosecutor General applied for a European arrest warrant against the man in June.
However, Polish authorities have so far been unable to arrest him. He seems to have gone into hiding. According to the report, the investigators were able to identify the diving instructor, among other things, through a speed camera photo. This showed him on his way to Rügen, where the yacht "Andromeda" was anchored, which is suspected of having carried out the attack.
The man is said to have been one of the divers who placed explosive devices on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, according to the conviction of the German investigators. In a phone call with the media, the Ukrainian expressed surprise at the accusation and denied any involvement in the attacks on Nord Stream.
Further suspects identified
The German investigators have apparently also succeeded in identifying another man and a woman, both Ukrainians, who are also said to have been involved in the attacks. They are also professional divers. However, there is currently no arrest warrant against them. The evidence apparently does not yet suffice for this.
The pipelines in the Baltic Sea were destroyed by a sabotage act at the end of September 2022 - three out of four strands of the pipelines were destroyed. Previously, Russian natural gas had already been flowing through Nord Stream 1 for years. Nord Stream 2 had not yet been put into operation due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent political disputes. The investigations in Germany are being conducted by the Federal Police and the Federal Criminal Police Office on behalf of the Federal Prosecutor General.
The investigators initially identified the sailing ship that was allegedly used by the sabotage team and largely reconstructed the route. It remains unclear who could have commissioned the attack.
The suspected Ukrainian diving instructor, if arrested, could potentially provide insights into the gas supply disruption caused by the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. Despite the German investigators identifying two more Ukrainian divers allegedly involved, no arrest warrant has been issued for them due to insufficient evidence.
