Italy changes its mind about extraditing Ukrainian suspected of Nord Stream bombing to Germany

The Italian Supreme Court has canceled the decision to extradite Ukrainian Serhiy Kuznetsov, who is suspected of blowing up the Russian Nord Stream gas pipeline, to Germany. About reported italian agency ANSA.

"The Court of Cassation overturned and remanded for reconsideration the decision by which the Court of Appeal ordered the transfer of Serhiy Kuznetsov, a former captain of the Ukrainian army, to Germany," the statement said.

The case will be considered by a new panel.

Kuznetsova detained in the Italian city of Rimini on August 21 on a European arrest warrant. He was charged with organizing an explosion at Nord Stream, sabotage, and destruction of facilities. Kuznetsov himself stated that on the day of the incident was in Ukraine.

on September 16, the Court of Appeal in Bologna allowed extradition Kuznetsov to Germany. The detainee's lawyer filed an appeal against this decision.

Another defendant in the case, Volodymyr Zh detained in Poland. october 1 the court arrested he was detained for seven days, and on October 6, he was arrested was extended for another 40 days.

Polish Prime Minister Tusk said that extradition of a suspected citizen of Ukraine - not in the country's interests.

• The destruction of three of the four lines of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, designed to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany, occurred on September 26, 2022. At that time, they were not working due to full-scale Russian aggression, but were filled with gas.
• The EU immediately suspected of deliberate sabotage and launched an investigation. Sweden, Denmark and Germany launched separate investigations events.
• In August 2024, the WSJ published a large article in which accused Ukraine of undermining the on the Nord Stream. In the Office of the President denied Ukraine's involvement to sabotage.
• In July 2025, the EU imposed sanctionsby banning the operation of these pipelines.