Zelensky denies any Ukrainian involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed on Sunday that Kyiv was not responsible for the explosions that destroyed the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022, while German authorities have recently blamed the Ukrainian state.

“Ukraine has never officially participated in any operation related to the Nord Stream sabotage,” Zelensky told reporters on Sunday, in response to a question about the ongoing investigation. He added that Germany was “perfectly aware that Ukraine was not behind the execution or even the planning of this operation.”

These statements come amid rising tensions between Kyiv and Berlin. German authorities asserted last month that the attack was ordered by the Ukrainian state. A second Ukrainian national was also arrested this week in connection with the explosions.

In early 2026, German investigators had already arrested a first suspect, a Ukrainian identified as Serhii K. According to prosecutors, he and six accomplices acted "on the orders of the Ukrainian state authorities," with the objective of "destroying the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines" in order to permanently interrupt Russian gas deliveries and deprive Moscow of the revenue necessary to finance its war.

Zelensky indicated that Ukraine was cooperating with German authorities in the investigation. He emphasized the diplomatic importance of the case: "It is very important for us not to lose our partnership, not to lose the trust of the European countries that have been helping Ukraine since the very beginning of this war."

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines crossed the Baltic Sea to transport Russian gas to Germany and other European countries. The second pipeline was never put into operation. In September 2022, both pipelines were sabotaged by underwater explosions. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.