Ukrainian national Serhiy Kuznetsov, detained in Italy on suspicion of sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines, has launched a hunger strike in a maximum-security prison, thrusting his case into the international spotlight and raising new concerns over extradition, human rights, and the still-mysterious 2022 explosions that shook European energy security.
Kuznetsov, a former Ukrainian officer, has refused food since October 31, 2025, according to his lawyer Nicola Canestrini. As reported by Babel and Agenzia Nova, the hunger strike comes as Kuznetsov awaits a final decision on Germany’s extradition request, after an Italian court in Bologna approved his transfer in late October. The case now sits before Italy’s Supreme Court, with a decision expected within weeks.
“A prisoner’s hunger strike is always a warning sign, not only for the person concerned. No one should be forced to take extreme measures to achieve recognition of fundamental rights,” Canestrini said, echoing his call for urgent intervention from the Italian Ministry of Justice and prison administration. According to Canestrini, his client demands “respect for his fundamental rights, including the right to adequate food, a healthy environment, dignified detention conditions, and equal treatment with other prisoners regarding family visits and access to information.”
The lawyer further asserts that since Kuznetsov’s arrest on August 21, 2025, the prison has failed to provide a diet compatible with his health needs, leading to a marked deterioration in his physical condition. The defense claims that evidence used to justify extradition was previously declared invalid by Italy’s Supreme Court—a point that, in their view, casts doubt on the legality of the process itself.
Italian authorities detained Kuznetsov under a European arrest warrant issued by Germany, whose prosecutors suspect him of coordinating the September 26, 2022, sabotage that crippled the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea. Those explosions, which ruptured three of the four pipeline strands connecting Russia and Germany, sent shockwaves through European energy markets and political circles. As Kyiv Independent notes, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline never became operational but had long been a flashpoint in European energy politics, with critics warning it deepened German dependence on Russian gas.
The sabotage was quickly declared deliberate by the US, UK, and EU governments, though Russia countered with claims that the US and its allies stood to benefit from the bombings. Media coverage in both the West and Russia has floated a range of theories, from Russian self-sabotage to Ukrainian involvement, but no definitive evidence has surfaced. President Volodymyr Zelensky has categorically denied Ukraine’s involvement, and Kyiv has stated it will not interfere in extradition proceedings within EU countries.
In the wake of the explosions, German investigators issued arrest warrants for six Ukrainians suspected of involvement, including Kuznetsov. On August 26, 2025, these warrants led to a flurry of arrests across Europe. In Poland, authorities detained another Ukrainian, Volodymyr Zhuravlov, on September 30, 2025, under similar suspicion. However, the Polish courts rejected Germany’s extradition request, with the District Court in Warsaw stating the evidence “fit on one page,” and thus could not be considered sufficient for extradition. The Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Karol Nawrocki welcomed the court’s decision, contextualizing the alleged act within Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine since 2014.
The extradition saga has seen numerous twists. On September 16, 2025, the Bologna court reclassified Kuznetsov’s case as terrorism, ordering his extradition to Germany. But on October 16, Italy’s Supreme Court overturned that decision, citing incorrect case reclassification. Just days later, on October 27, the Bologna Court of Appeal reaffirmed the extradition order, prompting Kuznetsov’s defense to file yet another appeal.
As the legal wrangling continues, the health and detention conditions of Kuznetsov have drawn increasing scrutiny from human rights advocates and officials. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced on November 4, 2025, that he had personally appealed to the Italian Ombudsman and Lazio region authorities, urging them to ensure basic rights and proper detention conditions for Kuznetsov. Lubinets declared, “Such circumstances are unacceptable and contradict the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.” He added that representatives from his office would attempt to access Kuznetsov’s detention site on November 5 to verify his health status and provide support.
“Tomorrow representatives of the Office of the Ukrainian Ombudsman will try to gain access to Serhiy Kuznetsov’s place of detention to verify the detention conditions, health status, and provide the necessary support,” Lubinets wrote, as reported on his official Facebook page.
The hunger strike, which Canestrini described as an “alarming signal,” has put Italian authorities under pressure to address the conditions inside their high-security prisons. The defense argues that the lack of a suitable diet and deteriorating health conditions amount to a violation of both Italian constitutional standards and international human rights obligations.
The broader Nord Stream investigation remains mired in uncertainty. In November 2024, Der Spiegel published findings suggesting that the saboteurs who struck Nord Stream also intended to target the TurkStream pipeline in the Black Sea, but failed in their attempt. Meanwhile, Sweden and Denmark, both having conducted their own probes, closed their investigations in early 2024, citing lack of jurisdiction. These closures have only added to the sense of mystery and frustration surrounding the case.
The extradition of suspects has become a flashpoint for differing legal and political interpretations across Europe. While Italian courts have so far leaned toward honoring Germany’s requests, Polish courts have set a contrasting precedent, citing insufficient evidence and the broader context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This divergence highlights the complexities of cross-border legal cooperation, especially when cases touch on sensitive geopolitical issues and ongoing armed conflict.
For Kuznetsov, the immediate concern remains his health and legal fate. His defense continues to argue that his rights are being violated and that the evidence underpinning Germany’s extradition request is flawed. The Italian Supreme Court’s impending decision will not only determine Kuznetsov’s future but may also set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the evolving landscape of European justice and security.
As the world waits for the next chapter in this high-stakes legal drama, the hunger strike of Serhiy Kuznetsov stands as a stark reminder of the human cost and legal complexities that can arise when international politics, security, and individual rights collide.
