Nord Stream sabotage trial opens in Germany
AI-generated briefing · First published
Ukrainian ex-officer Serhii Kuznietsov faces war-crime charges over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blasts; his lawyers seek dismissal, calling the pipelines a military target.
The trial of former Ukrainian special-forces officer Serhii Kuznietsov opened on 14 October 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. Prosecutors accuse him of leading the September 2022 sabotage that disabled the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, an act they classify as a war crime against civilian infrastructure. [1] [2] [3]
Defense lawyers argued the case should be dismissed, claiming the pipelines were a "Russian weapon" and therefore a lawful target, and that Kuznietsov is barred by Ukrainian secrecy rules from speaking to his counsel. [1] [3]
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin would accept any verdict without political interference; court dates run through February 2027. [1]
Sources
- Nord Stream trial opens in Germany, defense seeks dismissal
DW English · · Full text
- How six Ukrainian divers could have blown up Russia’s $20bn pipelines
Al Jazeera · · Excerpt
- Nord Stream may have been lawful target, argue lawyers for Ukrainian accused of bombing
France 24 English · · Excerpt