Suspect Svitlana U. maintains her innocence in the interview
An arrest warrant has been issued by the federal prosecutor's office for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. However, Volodymyr Z. is said to be back in Ukraine. Another suspect confirms knowing him, but denies the allegations in an interview with RTL/ntv.
The Federal Prosecutor General has issued the first arrest warrant for a Ukrainian citizen in connection with the sabotage of the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream. The responsible prosecutor's office in Poland confirms corresponding reports. However, the suspect living in Poland is said to have already left the country in the direction of Ukraine, it was said. It is stated that Germany has issued a European arrest warrant but has not entered his name in the wanted register.
The man, who is called Volodymyr Z., is said to be a diving instructor. In addition to him, two other suspects, a man and a woman, have been identified in connection with the sabotage of the gas pipeline. No arrest warrant has been issued against them so far. The two are also said to be Ukrainian diving instructors. The woman, Svitlana U., however, insists on her innocence in an interview with RTL/ntv.
She said she knows Volodymyr Z. in the video call interview. "I haven't worked with him, but I know him, he is a friend and godfather of my child," said Svitlana U. About the whereabouts of Z., she said, "I'm not sure. As far as I know, he is currently in Ukraine, in Kyiv." She said she had spoken to him on the phone after the report was published. "He told me not to worry. I can't imagine he has anything to do with it. Because he has small children."
As evidence of her innocence, she said she has photos and videos, "which prove that I was in Ukraine in September 2022." RTL/ntv has the photos that show U. with her daughter. However, it is unclear whether these are authentic. In September 2022, leaks were discovered in the Nord Stream pipes near the Danish island of Bornholm. Previously, two explosions had been recorded underwater. Swedish investigators also found traces of explosives at the scene, indicating an intentional explosion.
Legal action threatened
U. also threatened to take legal action against the journalists who "rushed to write this article." "Because I have numerous documents from September 2022 that prove I was in Kyiv and did not travel," she said.
About her family, U. said that her parents have been in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. Her husband joined the National Guard "in the first days" to defend the country. She herself left Kyiv with her child on March 3 - due to the danger of the Ukrainian capital being occupied. "We stayed in Poland for two months first, then a week in Austria, a month in Munich, two months in Bulgaria, and returned home on September 2, 2021," said U. to RTL/ntv.
Asked about the investigations in Germany, U. said: "It's hard for me to think about it right now, since the articles were only published this morning. I'm surprised that no investigative authorities from Germany have contacted me." So far, no authority from Poland, Germany, or Ukraine has contacted her. "Especially since I travel professionally as a diving instructor practically every month through Europe. It's strange that no one has contacted me anywhere." She does not want to be intimidated by the media attention around her person. In the coming days, she plans to travel to the Portuguese Azores to give diving lessons there.
The arrest warrant for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines also includes the Baltic Sea pipeline, commonly known as North Stream. Despite the issued warrant, Volodymyr Z., a suspected diving instructor, is reportedly back in Ukraine.
The European arrest warrant for the suspect in Poland regarding the North Stream pipeline sabotage has not been entered into the wanted register by German authorities.
