Hamburg Trial Opens for Ukrainian Suspect in Nord Stream Sabotage

A former Ukrainian commando has gone on trial in Germany over the pipeline blast, as his defense calls for charges to be dismissed.

The trial of Serhiy Kuznetsov, a former Ukrainian military officer and commando accused of involvement in planning and executing the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, has opened in a Hamburg court, as reported by Globes and Hungarian outlet Telex. Kuznetsov is the first individual to stand trial in Germany over the pipeline explosions, facing charges of war crimes.

At the opening of proceedings on the trial's first day, Kuznetsov's defense attorney requested the dismissal of the indictment, arguing that the detonation of the gas pipelines did not necessarily constitute a criminal offense. Further details regarding the legal proceedings have not yet been released.