Italy allows Ukrainian commissioner access to suspect in Nord Stream sabotage
Serhiy Kuznetsov is being held in a maximum security prison in northern Italy. (Photo: Sigmund via Unsplash)
Italian authorities granted a Ukrainian parliamentary commissioner access to Serhiy Kuznetsov, a Ukrainian man suspected of the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, for a four-hour meeting on Nov. 15, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in comments to news outlet Babel.
The commissioner’s representative, Oleksandr Horodetskyi, met with Kuznetsov, who completed the ombudsman's questionnaire during the session.
Kuznetsov has been moved to a solitary cell after previously sharing space with Islamic State terrorists who smoked constantly, and the Ukrainian is intolerant of tobacco smoke, Lubinets said.
The suspect's meals have also improved to accommodate his vegan diet and gluten intolerance. He went on a hunger strike from Oct. 31 to Nov. 11, losing nine kilograms during that time.
Kuznetsov now has access to a gym and two hours daily with his wife. He has requested news from Ukraine, Lubinets added.
Last week, Lubinets confirmed Kuznetsov served in Ukraine's Armed Forces. The Defense Ministry has yet to send his military documents to Italy.
As a military serviceman, Kuznetsov should receive protection under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war.
An Italian court has stopped referring to the Ukrainian as a "terrorist." A hearing on his extradition to Germany is set for Nov. 19.
Nord Stream explosions and arrests of Ukrainians
During the night of Sept. 26, 2022, three of the four strings of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were destroyed by explosions in international waters of the Baltic Sea. The pipelines were not operating at the time but were filled with technical gas.
Poland and Ukraine blamed Russia, while the Kremlin accused “Anglo-Saxons” and denied involvement.
In February 2024, Danish authorities closed their investigation due to insufficient grounds to pursue a criminal case; Sweden reached a similar conclusion.
On Aug. 27, 2025, Die Zeit, ARD and Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that German investigators had identified all suspects in the Nord Stream sabotage and issued arrest warrants for six Ukrainian nationals — four divers, an explosives specialist, a ship captain and the alleged leader of the sabotage group.
On Sept. 30, it emerged that Polish authorities had detained Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, wanted by Germany over suspected involvement. Poland’s National Security Bureau chief Sławomir Cenckiewicz and Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly opposed extradition, saying it was not in Poland’s national interest.
Kuznetsov, also suspected in the case, was detained in Italy during a family vacation under a European arrest warrant. He has since been held in a high-security prison in northern Italy.
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