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17 October 2025

Italy Blocks Extradition Of Ukrainian In Nord Stream Case

Italy’s top court annuls a decision to extradite a Ukrainian suspect to Germany over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blasts, complicating efforts to resolve the high-profile case.

Italy’s highest court has thrown a wrench into the international investigation of the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, rejecting Germany’s request to extradite a Ukrainian man suspected of carrying out the 2022 blasts. The decision, announced on October 15, 2025, by Italy’s Cassation Court, has sent ripples across Europe as authorities continue to seek answers about one of the most mysterious acts of sabotage in recent years.

According to the Associated Press, the Cassation Court annulled a previous ruling by a Bologna appeals court that had ordered the extradition of 49-year-old Serhii Kuznietsov to Germany. The court’s move effectively resets the legal process, demanding that another panel of the same appeals court reassess the case. The motivations behind the Cassation Court’s decision have not yet been made public, but are expected to be filed in the coming weeks.

Kuznietsov’s attorney, Nicola Canestrini, expressed cautious optimism following the ruling. He stated, “In the meantime, I will evaluate whether the conditions exist to request my client’s release, since the legal basis for detention has ceased to exist.” With the extradition order now void, Kuznietsov’s immediate future remains uncertain as Italian courts deliberate the next steps.

The case against Kuznietsov is rooted in the dramatic events of September 26, 2022, when a series of underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and damaged the parallel Nord Stream 2. The pipelines, stretching under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, had long been a focal point of European energy politics. Nord Stream 1 had supplied Russian natural gas to Germany until Russia cut off deliveries at the end of August 2022. Nord Stream 2, meanwhile, had never entered service after Germany suspended its certification in the lead-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the Associated Press.

German prosecutors allege that Kuznietsov orchestrated and executed the detonation of at least four bombs, each weighing between 14 and 27 kilograms (31 to 62 pounds), at a depth of 70 to 80 meters (230 to 263 feet) near the Danish island of Bornholm. The extradition papers detail a sophisticated operation that, if proven, would mark one of the most daring acts of sabotage in recent European history.

Kuznietsov was detained on August 21, 2025, on a European arrest warrant at a campground near Rimini, an Adriatic coastal city in Italy, where he was vacationing with his family. During his initial hearing, Kuznietsov denied any involvement in the explosions, telling Italian authorities that he was serving in the Ukrainian army as a captain at the time of the blasts. This alibi, if substantiated, could play a crucial role in his defense as the legal process unfolds.

The Nord Stream explosions have remained shrouded in mystery, fueling speculation, suspicion, and geopolitical finger-pointing. German prosecutors have been eager to clarify what happened, launching a sweeping investigation that has drawn in law enforcement agencies from across Europe. The damage to the pipelines not only disrupted energy supplies but also heightened tensions at a time when Europe was already grappling with the fallout from the war in Ukraine.

Adding another layer of complexity, Polish authorities last month arrested another Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the same undersea explosions. The Warsaw District Court is set to rule on his extradition on October 17, 2025, but the decision can be appealed. The extradition process in Poland has also become entangled in politics, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk declaring in early October that it was not “in the interest of Poland” to extradite the suspect. This stance underscores the sensitive nature of the case, as governments weigh legal obligations against national interests and diplomatic considerations.

While the Italian court’s decision is a legal one, it has significant political and diplomatic implications. The ruling delays Germany’s efforts to bring Kuznietsov to trial and could complicate broader attempts to unravel the truth behind the Nord Stream blasts. For now, the motivations for the Cassation Court’s annulment remain under wraps, leaving observers to speculate about the legal, procedural, or evidentiary issues that may have influenced the outcome.

In the meantime, Kuznietsov’s lawyer is weighing his options. With the legal basis for his client’s detention now in question, Canestrini is considering a request for Kuznietsov’s release. “The motivations of the Cassation Court’s decision have not been filed yet and are expected in the coming weeks,” Canestrini told reporters, suggesting that the next chapter in this legal saga may hinge on the court’s forthcoming explanation.

The Nord Stream pipelines themselves have become symbols of Europe’s fraught relationship with Russian energy. Nord Stream 1, once a vital artery for natural gas, was rendered inoperable by the blasts and the subsequent cutoff by Russia. Nord Stream 2, intended to double the flow of gas to Germany, was halted just as Russia’s tanks rolled into Ukraine, never delivering a single cubic meter to European consumers. The destruction of these pipelines has forced Europe to accelerate its search for alternative energy sources, reshaping the continent’s energy landscape.

The investigation into the Nord Stream explosions has also exposed the challenges of cross-border law enforcement in a politically charged environment. With suspects and evidence scattered across multiple countries, and with governments sometimes pulling in different directions, progress has been slow and often frustrating for those seeking accountability.

As the legal proceedings continue in Italy and Poland, the broader question remains: who was ultimately responsible for the Nord Stream sabotage, and what were their motives? With courts in two countries now weighing the fate of Ukrainian suspects, and with Germany eager for answers, the case is likely to remain in the spotlight for months to come.

For now, the fate of Serhii Kuznietsov hangs in the balance. As Italy’s courts prepare to revisit his case, and as European investigators continue their search for the truth, the Nord Stream mystery endures—an unresolved chapter in a period of unprecedented tension and upheaval in Europe.