German prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant in their investigation into the Nord Stream gas pipelines explosions in 2022, damaging the undersea pipelines between Russia and Germany. The arrest warrant was obtained against a Ukrainian man who was believed to have resided in Poland. The explosions occurred on September 26, 2022, causing damage to the pipelines and adding tension amid the war in Ukraine, as European countries sought to reduce their reliance on Russian energy sources.
The investigation into the sabotage remains ongoing, with Swedish and Danish authorities closing their investigations, leaving the German prosecutors’ case as the sole probe. The explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never put into operation due to Germany suspending its certification process following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has accused the U.S. of staging the explosions, which Washington denies. The pipelines were criticized by the U.S. and its allies for increasing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, posing a risk to energy security. Reports in March 2023 suggested a pro-Ukraine group may have been involved in the sabotage, but Ukraine denied any involvement, and German officials urged caution.
Investigators found traces of undersea explosives in samples taken from a yacht searched as part of the probe. The responsible party for the sabotage remains unknown, with German authorities remaining tight-lipped on their findings.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
