German court rejects bid to halt Nord Stream sabotage trial of Ukrainian defendant

In brief

• A Hamburg court refused a defence request to halt the trial of Serhii Kuznietsov over the 2022 Nord Stream explosions.
• The defence argued that Ukrainian secrecy rules barred the defendant from consulting counsel or testifying.
• The judge said German law governs the defence and that Ukrainian service rules do not restrict it.

Defence argued secrecy duties under Ukrainian law

The Hamburg Higher Regional Court dismissed the motion on the second day of the hearing (Таємниця за законом України не допомогла захисту: суд у Гамбурзі не закрив справу про підрив "Північних потоків" – Espreso) (Суд у Німеччині відмовився припинити процес у справі вибухів на "Північних потоках" – Українська правда). Lawyers for the accused, a 50-year-old former officer of a Ukrainian special forces unit, argued that Ukrainian law obliged him to keep official secrets. In their view, he could therefore neither consult his counsel nor testify, and he would face severe punishment at home if he did.

Court says German law governs the defence

The presiding judge said that under German law the defendant is not restricted in his defence. Freedom to testify in Germany, she added, is not limited by the service rules of another state (Hamburgo teismas nusprendė tęsti bylą dėl dujotiekių „Nord Stream“ sprogdinimo – LRT).

Trial continues as scheduled

The proceedings are running to plan. The same day, the court was due to hear an expert from the Federal Criminal Police Office on the damage to the pipelines and the cause of the explosion.

Prosecution's case

The federal prosecutor accuses the defendant of organising the attack and of carrying it out together with six other participants. Prosecutors say he acted on behalf of Ukrainian state authorities.

Background to the explosions

On 26 September 2022, several explosive devices detonated on the seabed near the Danish island of Bornholm, at a depth of about 80 metres. Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were badly damaged, with leaks found on three of the four pipeline strings.

Arrest and extradition

Kuznietsov was detained in summer 2025 while on holiday in Italy and was later extradited to Germany. The trial opened in Hamburg in mid-October.