A Ukrainian former special forces officer, Serhii Kuznetsov, went on trial in Hamburg, Germany, accused of helping lead the 2022 bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea.

Prosecutors allege that Kuznetsov and six accomplices used a rented yacht, divers and explosives to damage the pipelines, which carried Russian natural gas to Germany.

Kuznetsov and Ukraine deny involvement, while his lawyers argue that the trial should not proceed and challenge the claim that the attack constituted sabotage of civilian infrastructure.

The explosions severely damaged Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, intensifying tensions over Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and raising questions about who ordered the attack, The Guardian has reported.

Kuznetsov, who was arrested in Italy in August 2025 and extradited to Germany, is expected to maintain his right to remain silent as the trial continues amid political divisions over Ukraine and the future of Russian gas supplies.