On August 14, 2024, German authorities issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national in connection with the 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines. This development is notable as it marks the first official arrest warrant related to the blasts that disrupted gas supplies between Germany and Russia through the Baltic Sea.
The suspect, identified as Volodymyr Zhuravlov, a 44 year-old diving instructor, was last seen in a Polish town west of Warsaw but is now reportedly in hiding. This information was disclosed by several German news outlets, including ARD, Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), and Die Zeit, which have been investigating the case.
The Nord Stream explosions occurred on September 26, 2022. German investigators have reportedly linked Zhuravlov and other Ukrainian suspects to the sabotage. The German media investigation claims that Zhuravlov, along with two other Ukrainian nationals, was involved in operating a boat named Andromeda in the Baltic Sea at the time. Zhuravlov is believed to have been captured on camera near the German island of Rugen on September 8, 2022, in a white Citroen van, which allegedly transported the suspects to their boat.
The investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting that Zhuravlov and his associates may have placed explosive charges on the pipelines while diving. However, the Ukrainian government has consistently denied any involvement in the explosions.
In response to the warrant, German prosecutors had already issued a European arrest warrant in June and requested Polish authorities to detain Zhuravlov. The Polish Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that while the warrant was filed, Zhuravlov was not listed in their wanted persons database and had crossed the border back into Ukraine by early July. This has led to speculation that Zhuravlov may have evaded capture and is now residing elsewhere.
This arrest warrant represents a significant development in a case that has seen various nations, including Denmark and Sweden, drop their investigations. The accusations against Ukraine have been a source of tension, with Russia and Western countries exchanging blame over the Nord Stream attacks.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, completed in 2021 but never put into operation, was criticized for potentially increasing Europe’s energy dependence on Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suspended its certification in February 2022, just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which further strained relations between the EU and Russia.
The ongoing investigation continues to seek clarity on the incident, with previous claims suggesting that the attacks might have originated from Poland.
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