Supporters rallied in Hamburg as a German court began hearing the Nord Stream sabotage case, with protesters denouncing the prosecution of a Ukrainian national accused in the underwater blasts. The demonstration outside the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court unfolded under heavy security, marking the opening of a trial expected to stretch into February.
The case has reignited debate over who bears responsibility for the September 2022 explosions that ruptured Nord Stream 1 and 2, pipelines built to carry Russian gas to Germany. Protesters carried signs reading “Russia is a Terrorist” while questioning why war crimes charges would target someone who damaged an energy conduit rather than those who bombed cities or killed civilians.
Ivan Kuritsyn, representing Citizens’ Initiative Vilni De Ua, a nonprofit founded by Ukrainians displaced by the war, told the crowd they had gathered to show solidarity with the defendant. He identified the man as Serhii Kuznietsov, while German prosecutors refer to him only as Serhii K. due to privacy rules.
The 50-year-old stands accused of helping coordinate the pipeline attack. Prosecutors allege he supervised a dive team, a boat captain and an explosives specialist during the operation. Charges include offenses tied to the explosions, property destruction, disruption of public services and an alleged war crime involving civilian infrastructure. He has not been convicted.
Meanwhile, the trial’s security posture reflects the geopolitical sensitivity surrounding the case. Germany’s federal prosecutor has pursued the investigation for years, while some European officials have pointed toward Ukrainian operatives and others toward Russian involvement. As a result, the Hamburg proceedings will likely draw continued attention from across Europe.
The court has scheduled hearings through February, with testimony expected from technical experts and investigators. Whatever the outcome, the trial could shape how European governments publicly address one of the most consequential acts of energy infrastructure sabotage in recent memory.
