The individual arrested in Rimini, Italy, in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage is Serhii K., a 49-year-old Ukrainian national. German prosecutors allege he was a key coordinator of the operation, which involved planting explosive devices on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines near Bornholm, Denmark, using a sailing yacht rented from Rostock, Germany, with forged identity documents. Serhii K. was detained on August 21, 2025, by Italian Carabinieri in Misano Adriatico, near Rimini, based on a European arrest warrant.
He was on vacation with his family at a rented bungalow when arrested and faces charges of causing an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage, and infrastructure destruction. German authorities are seeking his extradition for further investigation. There is no confirmed evidence that Serhii K. was the “head of the command,” but he is described as a leading organizer. Reports suggest the operation may have been linked to a pro-Ukrainian group, though Ukraine denies involvement.