The trial of Ukrainian serviceman Serhii Kuznetsov, accused of leading the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, began yesterday in Hamburg, Germany.
The attack involved a group of divers who planted explosives on the Baltic seabed to blow up pipelines carrying Russian natural gas between Russia and Germany.
According to the indictment, Kuznetsov led a team of divers who allegedly acted on orders from state authorities. He is believed to have had six accomplices: four deep-sea divers, an explosives expert and a boat captain. The group allegedly used a rented sailing yacht and timed explosive devices.
Demonstrations by supporters of Ukraine and supporters of the Kremlin took place simultaneously outside the courthouse.
Kuznetsov faces charges of complicity in war crimes involving an attack on civilian infrastructure, causing an explosion, destruction of property and disruption of public utilities.
At the time, he was serving as an officer in the Ukrainian military’s special forces. Both Kuznetsov and Ukraine deny involvement in the attack.
The German government declined to comment on the proceedings, given the potentially significant political implications of a trial in which Ukraine is effectively accused of an attack against Germany, one of its most consistent allies during the war.
Source: The Guardian
