The arrest reportedly took place in Pula, Croatia.
The detained man is Ukrainian, referred to in the documents as “Vladimir Z,” and is a recreational diver, according to the prosecutor's office. He is suspected on probable grounds of being involved in the explosions.
It was discovered in September 2022 that the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea, had leaked. Seismic measurements showed that explosions had taken place in the sea shortly before. Swedish prosecutors later confirmed that the pipelines had been blown up.
The sabotage has previously been reported to have been carried out with the knowledge of the Ukrainian military. In addition to the man now arrested, a captain, an explosives expert and several other deep-sea divers are said to have been involved. Formal charges have been brought against a 50-year-old Ukrainian man.
