Nearly two years after the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines were damaged by explosions in the Baltic Sea, investigators are now focusing on a Ukrainian suspect believed to be involved in the sabotage.
The German Attorney General has issued an arrest warrant for the individual, who was last known to be in Poland but has since gone into hiding.
This development was reported by Die Zeit, Kurier, and ARD.
The Explosions and Aftermath
On September 26, 2022, several explosions hit the Nord Stream pipelines, causing major damage and stopping the flow of natural gas from Russia to Germany.
The blasts occurred near the Danish island of Bornholm, leading to the discovery of four leaks in three of the four pipeline lines.
At the time, Nord Stream 1 was active, but Nord Stream 2 had not yet started operations due to the political tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Authorities have been investigating the sabotage with various theories about who was responsible.
Recently, the investigation has shifted towards possible Ukrainian involvement.
The main suspect, who was reportedly last in Poland, has gone into hiding.
Two other Ukrainians are also under suspicion for their roles in the attack. They are believed to have been involved as divers who may have placed the explosives on the pipelines.
These suspicions are based on tips from a foreign intelligence service, which have helped investigators narrow down the search.
The "Andromeda" Link
Earlier investigations pointed to a sailing yacht named "Andromeda" as being connected to the sabotage.
Traces of explosives were found on the yacht in July 2023, raising suspicions that it might have been used to transport the materials for the attack.
While Denmark and Sweden have stopped their investigations, German authorities are still following leads.
