Germany identified, but failed to arrest key suspect in Nord Stream sabotage attack: Reports

BERLIN

German prosecutors have identified a Ukrainian citizen as a key suspect in the Nord Stream sabotage attack but efforts to apprehend him have been unsuccessful, local media reported on Wednesday.

Wolodymyr Z., a diving instructor, was among the group who traveled to the northern city of Rostock in September 2022, rented a yacht, and sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines, public broadcaster ARD reported.

German authorities issued a European arrest warrant in June after finding out that the suspect was residing in a town in Poland, but he could not be arrested as Polish authorities were reluctant to cooperate with Berlin, according to the report.

“Apparently, there has been no response from Poland to the German request for legal assistance. It is not known why the Polish authorities have not arrested Volodymyr Z,” the report said.

According to the weekly Der Spiegel, the suspect is believed to have already fled the country, and he might have been tipped off about the investigation against him.

“Warsaw has always shown very little interest in solving the bomb attack on the (Nord Stream) pipelines,” the weekly said, adding that Polish authorities have repeatedly expressed doubt about traces that led into the country.

According to the German prosecutors, the yacht “Andromeda” used in the operation was rented by a company based in Poland, which was apparently owned by two Ukrainians.

The group is believed to have consisted of two divers, two assistants, one captain, and a medic.

The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022 was an unprecedented attack, and caused extensive damage to the pipelines connecting Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea.