In Italy, the identity of the detainee for the bombing of the Nord Streams was revealed

The Ukrainian detained on suspicion of blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines turned out to be a former special forces soldier and agent of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Sergey Kuzentsov. This was reported on August 21 by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

"49-year-old Sergey Kuzentsov, a former special forces soldier and then agent 007 of the Kiev SBU, is considered the commander of the yacht Andromeda, used on September 26, 2022 to transport terrorists who blew up two Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany, strategically important for Europe's energy supply," the publication says.

It is specified that Kuzentsov was not alone on the yacht at the time of the explosion of the Nord Streams. Besides him, there were also at least five people on board: a woman and four divers who planted explosives off the Danish island of Bornholm.

According to the newspaper, he did not hide and always used his real name. In addition, Kuzentsov visited the tourist town of San Clemente, which is located near Misano Adriatico and just a few minutes from the beaches of Riccione and Cattolica. It is specified that the man was arrested there on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by German law enforcement agencies.

According to preliminary information, Kuzentsov "himself greeted" the Italian police, who surrounded the resort on a tip from the unit of the International Police Cooperation Service (SCIP).

According to the newspaper, the German authorities were aware of the man's intention to travel to Italy. It is noted that during the arrest Kuzentsov did not resist, he was identified and taken to a prison in Rimini.

At the moment, the suspect is awaiting trial to consider the case, after which the extradition procedure to Germany will begin.

On the same day, it became known about the detention of a Ukrainian in Italy in the case of the attack on Nord Streams. It was clarified that the operation was carried out on the warrant of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported that the detained Ukrainian is a retired captain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Prior to that, he worked for the SBU and was part of a unit involved in the work of the Air defense forces of Ukraine.

According to the German Federal Prosecutor's Office, the Ukrainian was part of a group of people who planted explosive devices on gas pipelines. It is assumed that he was one of the coordinators of the operation. Together with his accomplices, he transported a sailing yacht leased from a German company using forged documents through intermediaries.

On November 30, 2024, the German Prosecutor General's Office identified two suspects in the sabotage of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream–2 gas pipelines. Prior to that, on October 4, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated the need to investigate the terrorist attack against the joint venture with special care.

Leaks on gas pipelines were discovered in September 2022. Bjorn Lund, a representative of the Swedish seismic center, said that two powerful underwater explosions were registered in the area of pipeline leaks at the time of the emergency. After that, traces of explosives were found at the accident site. Russia is seeking an international investigation into the terrorist attacks.

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