Suspected Nord Stream pipeline saboteur extradited to Germany

The alleged mastermind of the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions has been extradited from Italy to Germany, prosecutors confirmed Thursday.

The 49-year-old Ukrainian national was transferred to German police after three months of detention in Italy, where he spent most of his time in a high-security prison in Ferrara.

He also went on hunger strike for several days due to alleged mistreatment.

The suspect was transported by helicopter to Germany under the supervision of German authorities. After landing in Karlsruhe, he was taken from the helicopter to a car by heavily armed police.

On Friday, he is due to appear before a judge, who is expected to issue the arrest warrant.

The Ukrainian national is next to be tried in Germany, with Hamburg currently under consideration.

A long-running legal battle over extradition was settled last week in Italy’s top court.

German prosecutors accuse the man of being behind explosions on Baltic Sea gas pipelines in 2022.

He allegedly coordinated a team of seven suspects who planted explosive devices on Baltic Sea gas pipelines in September 2022. The attacks made headlines around the world.

The explosions damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines so badly that no gas could be transported there.

No one has yet been brought to justice for the attacks on the former German-Russian project. Six other suspects in the case remain at large, while Poland has refused to extradite another Ukrainian suspect to Germany.

The suspect was arrested while vacationing with his wife and children in Italy in late August. He has already traveled several times to various European countries without attracting the attention of law enforcement.