A Ukrainian man accused of blowing up Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines goes on trial in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday, the BBC and DW reported. He is the first suspect to stand trial over the 2022 attack, the BBC reported.

German prosecutors identify him as Serhii K. Explosions destroyed three of the four pipelines in the Baltic Sea near the Danish island of Bornholm on Sept. 26, 2022, both outlets reported. That was seven months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He was arrested in Italy in August 2025 on a European arrest warrant and later sent to Germany, both outlets reported. Prosecutors say he was a serving officer in Ukraine's army in 2022 and led a group of divers, a boat captain and an explosives expert, the BBC reported.

He is accused of taking part in a war crime by attacking civilian energy infrastructure, DW reported. He denies the charges, the BBC reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said Ukraine was not involved, both outlets reported. But in their indictment, German prosecutors say the plotters were "acting by order of Ukrainian state agencies," the BBC reported.

The case is sensitive because Germany is one of Ukraine's closest allies, both outlets reported. DW said Germany has taken in about 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees. Some German parties that want closer ties with Moscow, such as the far-right AfD, have said Ukraine should pay for the damage, DW reported.

A second Ukrainian suspect is fighting extradition from Croatia, the BBC reported. He also denies the charges.

What we know: The first trial over the Nord Stream blasts starts Wednesday in Hamburg.
What we don't: Whether the court will find any link to Ukraine's leadership.