Nord Stream sabotage trial: Kuznetsov's defense to cite two military commanders as witnesses
The defense of Ukrainian national Serhii Kuznetsov, who is standing trial in Hamburg for the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, plans to present written sworn testimony from two of his military commanders, including a figure described as the likely organizer of the entire operation. Kuznetsov himself will not testify; his lawyers argue that as a servicemember he is not authorized to disclose details of his activities. He denies involvement in the sabotage, and Ukraine officially rejects the accusations against him.
Key points
- German prosecutors charge Kuznetsov with causing an explosion and with a war crime (attack on civilian infrastructure) over the 2022 sabotage.
- The defense plans to submit written sworn testimony from two of his military commanders, one of whom is described as the likely organizer of the entire operation.
- Kuznetsov will not testify in person; his lawyers say he is not authorized to disclose details of his activities as a servicemember.
- Kuznetsov denies involvement; Ukraine officially rejects the accusations.
- On 26 September 2022, explosions in the Baltic Sea damaged three of the four strings of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.
- Kuznetsov was detained in Italy in August 2025 under a German arrest warrant and subsequently extradited to Germany.
Why it matters
The Hamburg trial is the main legal proceeding examining responsibility for the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage, a major attack on energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The defense is explicitly seeking to shift responsibility from Kuznetsov to higher-ranking Ukrainian military figures, including an alleged overall architect. The charges go beyond causing an explosion to include a war crime allegation (attack on civilian infrastructure), which raises questions about how the sabotage is legally characterized. The case is unfolding in a German court against a backdrop of Ukraine's official rejection of the accusations, and the trial's outcome may influence broader international legal and political assessments of the incident.
What happened
Serhii Kuznetsov, a Ukrainian national whom Germany suspects of organizing the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, is standing trial in Hamburg. He is charged with causing an explosion and with a war crime — an attack on civilian infrastructure. Kuznetsov denies involvement.
Ahead of the trial, his defense announced it intends to present written sworn testimony from two of his direct military commanders. According to reporting, one of those commanders is a figure described as the likely organizer of the entire Nord Stream operation, suggesting the defense will argue that responsibility lies higher up the chain of command. Kuznetsov himself does not plan to testify; his lawyers argue that as a military servicemember he is not authorized to disclose details of his activities.
Kuznetsov was detained in Italy in August 2025 on a German arrest warrant and later extradited to Germany. Ukraine officially rejects the accusations against him. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi said it was regrettable that discussion focused on who blew up the pipelines rather than who built them, arguing that the construction of Nord Stream freed Russia's hands to start the war by reducing Moscow's dependence on gas transit through Ukraine.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian-language coverage centers on the BBC reporting and foregrounds the defense's strategy of introducing testimony from two military commanders rather than the prosecution's charges. All three Ukrainian sources note Ukraine's official rejection of the accusations and quote Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi redirecting attention to the construction of Nord Stream as the enabler of Russia's war. The coverage highlights a BBC observation that Kuznetsov was on active military service at the time of the explosions, and a Ukrainian lawyer cited in the reporting places the start of the Hamburg trial at around 26 October.
Where reporting differs
German prosecutors maintain that Kuznetsov personally led the operation; his defense argues he was a subordinate servicemember and plans to introduce written testimony from two of his commanders — including a figure described as the likely overall organizer — to push responsibility further up the chain of command.
German investigators say they see a possible Ukrainian state role in the sabotage. Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General reported on 9 July 2026 that its own investigation found no evidence of involvement by Ukraine, its authorities or officials, and Ukraine officially rejects the accusations against Kuznetsov.
Background
On 26 September 2022, explosions in the Baltic Sea damaged three of the four strings of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. German investigators suspect the explosives were planted by a group of divers using the rented yacht Andromeda, and prosecutors have identified seven people they say were involved: four divers (including one woman), a demolition specialist, a skipper, and a coordinator. Germany has issued arrest warrants for six people in connection with the case. Kuznetsov was detained in Italy in August 2025 on a German arrest warrant and subsequently extradited to Germany. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, has reported that the operation was planned by several high-ranking Ukrainian military officers and businessmen. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi has argued that the focus should be on who built the pipelines rather than who blew them up, saying Nord Stream's construction freed Russia to start the war. Russia has blamed the United Kingdom for the explosions; the UK has denied this.