German court hears case over Nord Stream explosions as regulator downplays gas impact
German prosecutors are seeking to hold former Ukrainian special-forces officer Serhii Kuznetsov and six others responsible for the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. At the Hamburg trial, Germany's network regulator said the attacks had only a minor effect on gas supplies, while attributing the 2022 gas crisis primarily to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Key points
- The Hamburg trial concerns Serhii Kuznetsov and six others accused of organizing the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
- The explosions occurred on September 26, 2022, south of Denmark's Bornholm island.
- They damaged three of four Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipeline lines.
- Kuznetsov is a former Ukrainian special-forces officer; he was arrested in Italy in summer 2025 and extradited to Germany.
- Germany had already stopped receiving gas through Nord Stream 1 when the explosions occurred.
- German storage was 85% full shortly before the attacks.
- The charges allege a war crime involving an attack on civilian infrastructure, explosions, destruction and disruption of public services.
Why it matters
The proceedings seek to establish criminal responsibility for the Nord Stream explosions and alleged attacks on civilian infrastructure. The regulator's assessment also limits the immediate energy-supply significance of the sabotage and provides a German regulatory explanation for the 2022 gas-price surge and Germany's reduced reliance on Russian gas. The case remains relevant to possible German supply shortages during an exceptionally severe winter.
What happened
At a trial in Hamburg, German prosecutors accused former Ukrainian special-forces officer Serhii Kuznetsov and six others of organizing the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. The charges allege a war crime through an attack on civilian infrastructure, as well as causing explosions, destroying buildings and disrupting public utilities. Prosecutors say the explosions occurred south of Bornholm on September 26, 2022, damaging three of four Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 lines.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage centers on Kuznetsov's identity as a former Ukrainian special-forces officer and the serious criminal accusations against him. It also foregrounds the Hamburg proceedings and Germany's assessment that the pipeline attacks had limited effects on gas supplies while Russian aggression was the principal cause of the gas crisis.
Where reporting differs
Most reports state that the Hamburg trial began on October 14 without identifying the year. A2 reported that it began on October 14, 2026, with hearings scheduled through at least February 2027.
Background
Before the full-scale invasion, Germany and the European Union imported substantial volumes of gas from Russia and other former Soviet republics. Imports fell sharply after February 24, 2022, as Russia reduced deliveries from spring and stopped transporting gas to Germany through Nord Stream in early September. Germany sought alternative supplies, expanded liquefied-natural-gas terminals and filled storage to 85% shortly before the explosions. Wholesale gas prices rose from below 100 euros per megawatt-hour before the war to 230 euros in March 2022 and nearly 340 euros by late August, before gradually declining.