German prosecutors have announced the arrest of a second Ukrainian national suspected of involvement in the 2022 explosions that severely damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

Croatian authorities detained the suspect, identified as Vladimir Z., in the city of Pula on Wednesday after acting on a European arrest warrant issued by Germany. German prosecutors said the man, who is a trained scuba diver, is “strongly suspected of jointly causing explosions” that damaged the pipelines.

German authorities are now seeking his extradition from Croatia to face further proceedings.

The suspect had reportedly been detained in Poland in September 2025 following a German extradition request, but was later released after Polish authorities rejected the request.

The latest arrest follows the detention of another Ukrainian national in Italy last year in connection with the investigation.

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany and other parts of Europe. Nord Stream 2 had not entered commercial operation when a series of explosions struck both pipeline systems in the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

The blasts occurred months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and left the pipelines severely damaged and largely inoperable.

German prosecutors have said they suspect the attack was part of an operation intended to permanently disrupt gas deliveries through the pipelines and prevent Russia from generating revenue from European gas sales to support its war effort.

German authorities have also indicated that the sabotage was allegedly ordered by Ukrainian state entities. Ukraine has denied involvement in the attacks.