Lawyer argues blowing up Russia’s pipeline may not have been a crime

A former Ukrainian military officer is on trial in Germany over what has been described as one of the ‘biggest sabotage operations of modern times’

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Russia’s biggest gas pipeline to Europe was blown up four years ago, in what has since been described as one of the “biggest sabotage operations of modern times”.

Ukrainian ex-military officer Serhi Kuznetsov stands accused of leading a group of Ukrainian agents, including divers and an explosive expert, that bombed the Nord Stream Pipeline – which provided half of Germany’s imports of natural gas before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – in 2022.

The explosion of Nord Stream sealed the end of Germany's longstanding dependence on Russian natural gas, although Moscow had already cut supplies over Berlin's support for European sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A trial into the bombing started on Wednesday, with Kuznetsov’s lawyer Nicola Canestrini moving to have the case dismissed.

Ms Canestrini argued that the pipeline was a “Russian weapon” and therefore potentially a “legitimate target”.

Prosecutors have alleged that Kuznetsov, who was arrested under an international warrant in Italy in 2025, worked with members of the Ukrainian military to plan the clandestine operation on behalf of unidentified Ukrainian state entities.

The 50-year-old, who was referred to publicly only as Serhi K. prior to the hearing, has denied any involvement in “the blasts that ruptured the 750-mile long Baltic Sea Pipeline”.

Showing up to court wearing a grey suit, Kuznetsov exercised his right to remain silent but did not cover his face. His lawyers said he could not mount a proper defence because he was obliged to hold Ukrainian state secrets.

The government in Kyiv has also denied any involvement – a sensitive point in its relations with Germany, which is the country’s largest European supplier of military aid.

German prosecutors say the alleged crime, attacking civilian targets and causing explosions that destroyed infrastructure and damaged public services, would amount to a war crime.