Suspect identified in Nord Stream pipeline sabotage tracked to Copenhagen

While German authorities sought those responsible for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, a key suspect was reportedly in Denmark. The individual, a 44-year-old Ukrainian deep-sea diver, stayed with his family for several days at the Stay apartment hotel at Islands Brygge in Copenhagen. Reports indicate he visited the Danish capital in late May, just days before the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by German authorities. Since then, he has been wanted in one of the largest sabotage cases in recent history.

Investigations suggest that a group used a sailing vessel to plant explosives on both pipelines during the weeks leading up to the sabotage. The suspect is believed to have been part of this group. His May visit was one of several trips to Denmark with his family, including trips in 2013, 2017, and 2019, as evidenced by their social media posts.

During the recent trip, the family traveled from near Warsaw, Poland, to Denmark on May 22, board ferry services from Rostock to Gedser. The suspect’s wife, who works for a Danish company, often visits Denmark for professional reasons. Reports confirmed that they checked into the hotel for three nights.

After leaving Copenhagen, the family stopped in Berlin to visit relatives. Shortly thereafter, Germany issued a European arrest warrant for the diver. Legal experts note that although the suspect traveled legally into Denmark, Danish authorities had closed the investigation earlier in February, indicating no grounds to reopen the case based on the recent findings.

Amid this, the Ukrainian suspect has denied involvement in the sabotage, while police investigations in Denmark and Germany continue.